After years of delay, Prime Minister Robert Abela inaugurated the new Sports and Aquatic Pavilion in Victoria, Gozo on Wednesday.

The pavilion will provide high-quality indoor sports and aquatic facilities for local, national, and international use, the government said in a statement. Strategically located in the heart of Victoria, the complex includes a wide range of facilities, from an Olympic-sized pool to specialised areas for different sporting disciplines and other physical activities, the statement said.

The pavilion has been the subject of great political controversy for years. It experienced significant delays, missed several projected deadlines, and incurred in budget overruns, with costs exceeding €20 million against an initial estimate of around €9 million. The final cost remains unknown. The delays and budget overruns have led to accusations of fiscal mismanagement and requests for a magisterial inquiry. 

The project, initiated by former Gozo Minister Justyne Caruana, was initially planned to be completed in 2021. Alternative opening dates - October 2022, October 2023, and June 2024 - were later mentioned but not reached, until yesterday's opening.

The government statement Wednesday said that following a beautiful spectacle of synchronised swimming during the inauguration, Abela said that with the completion of this project, Gozo has opened its doors to international sporting events. He added that this project will bring additional value to the island of Gozo.

Abela emphasised that this is one of a series of projects transforming Gozo and strengthening the community and social fabric that sustains the island's unique identity as an island of villages. He noted: "This is the type of investment which forms the basis of the Regional Strategy for Gozo, a strategy that Government has launched and is now implementing."

The Prime Minister underlined Government's ongoing commitment to invest in Gozo, stressing that the island is central to national vision of creating new prosperity. He said that in this way Gozo will become the engine of the country's new prosperity. Abela highlighted several quality projects that are currently underway, including the construction of a new primary school in Rabat, ongoing works on the Rabat-Marsalforn road, and the progress made on the Gozo Museum project.

Abela also announced that Government is preparing to launch a number of additional initiatives under the Urban Sustainable Development Fund, through which Gozo will benefit from an investment of €60 million. He explained that, "This will translate into new green urban spaces, including an underground car park in the centre of Rabat and the extension of Villa Rundle Gardens."

Minister for Gozo and Planning Clint Camilleri also addressed the inauguration, describing the day as a historic moment for the island with the opening of the Sports and Aquatic Pavilion. He noted that this is the first project of its kind in Gozo, featuring not only the island's first Olympic-sized pool but also a wide range of international-standard sports facilities under one roof. Minister Camilleri explained that the pavilion embodies a clear and concrete vision for the development of sport in Gozo.

"In fact, we are placing Gozo on the European map as a sports destination, offering state-of-the-art facilities built to international standards. For many years, this was only a promise on paper, but today it has become a reality thanks to the Government that delivers on its commitments," said Minister Camilleri. He outlined the extensive work carried out to realise this project, adding that the pavilion will be crucial not only for the advancement of sport on the island but also for the growth of sports tourism, the hosting of international competitions, and the creation of new opportunities for Gozitan athletes of all ages.

Beyond swimming, the pavilion also caters for multiple disciplines including basketball, volleyball, netball, badminton, handball, padel, and squash. The complex further includes a dedicated hall for gymnastics, dance, table tennis, and martial arts.