The Malta Authority for Integrity in Sport (AiMS) presented registration certificates to 56 sports organisations after they completed the existing schedules required under the law governing the registration of sports persons in Malta.
According to Chapter 626 of the Laws of Malta, all sports organisations must be registered in the Register for Sports Persons, which falls under the responsibility of the Malta Authority for Integrity in Sport.
During a symbolic ceremony held at the Ministry for Education, Sport, Youth, Research and Innovation, officials from these sports organisations were presented with their registration certificates, which now render them compliant with the current law.
Addressing the various Presidents and General Secretaries representing these sports organisations, the Minister for Education, Sport, Youth, Research and Innovation, Clifton Grima, said that this registration is crucial for the very existence of any sports organisation, as it grants them legal personality. Although legal personality may also be obtained through the Malta Business Registry (MBR), Minister Grima reminded those present that the MBR is bound by the same Act (Chapter 626) to request authorisation from the Malta Authority for Integrity in Sport before registering any sports organisation. He stressed that no sports organisation can obtain such status before being registered with AiMS.
Minister Grima remarked that these 56 sports organisations can now rightfully continue applying to benefit from the various funds offered by the Government, including funds from SportMalta used for training, international competitions both in Malta and abroad, and funds aimed at the continued development of their respective sports.
Also present at the ceremony was the Chairman of the Malta Authority for Integrity in Sport, Judge Antonio Mizzi, who said that what these 56 sports organisations have achieved is important not only for them as associations and federations, but also for the clubs and academies within them. Judge Mizzi stated that the success of the registration should also be a source of pride for all members within these organisations, including coaches, athletes, and parents who send their children to train in the respective academies. He added that this certificate also represents a seal of professionalism and serious governance.
In his address, the Chief Executive Officer of AiMS, Kevin Azzopardi, said that everyone present at the ceremony should feel proud of having worked for the benefit of their association or federation to be compliant with the law. He recalled that the Authority for Integrity in Sport, aware that the majority of sports organisations are run by volunteers, had launched the REGitALL scheme to help entities and sports organisations complete the schedules required by law.
The REGitALL scheme offered assistance from professionals specifically engaged and trained by AiMS to support organisations in compiling their registration. He explained that these professionals met regularly with officials from the sports organisations, not only to provide the necessary advice, but also to physically assist them throughout the entire process.
Kevin Azzopardi emphasised that it is now important for every registered sports organisation to continue operating with good governance and to serve as an example for other sports organisations. He appealed to these organisations to now encourage and assist their member clubs to also begin the application process, so that all clubs will be compliant with the law and eventually officially registered by the end of the year.