9 minute read
The localities
2023 will be a year to remember
2023 will be another year to remember for Sport in Malta as for the third time in 30 years, Malta and mainly the Central Region area will host another edition of the Games of the Small Nations of Europe.These games are open to small nations whose population is under a million inhabitants.
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Malta successfully organised these games held under the auspices of the International Olympic Committee and hosted the editions of 1993 and 2003. These Games helped the Maltese people to have better and modern facilties in the sports industry.
Another big international event to be hosted by Malta is the U19’s Euro which UEFA entrusted to our Football Association. As our National Stadium is located
in Attard, where a big part of this tournament will be played in our Central Region. Accordingly, the Year 2023 and the ambition to turn the Central Region of Malta into the European Sport Region is aimed to enhace Maltese to particpate in more sporting acivities.
CHALLENGES THROUGH SPORT
Sport can help improve public health by introducing healthy eating habits. Obesity in Malta is high, the highest in Europe and percentage of this is in our Central Region so we need to control this by introducing challenges as sport can help us beat it.
Physical activities and sport should help us stop decrease overweight. Obesity triggers preventable diseases and this could be a burden on the public healty system. So in the coming years with a clear vision we must commit citizens, athletes, coaches and leaders to take sport as a great challenge for the future to restore a healty generation.
An effective way to fight these challenges is through sport activites at schools and colleges. Physical education and sport has to be incorporated seriously into our educational system. We should treat this idea as introducing a new mentality amongst this and future generations. However, we all know that introducing a new mentality is very difficult.
Ten years ago our Government introduced a school specifically aimed to teach sports to students who showed their intention to take sport seriously. This helped to increase the number of athletes participating in international events. Authorites should keep supporting them in their preparation amd healty competition.
Despite this promotion, public schools in our country must encourage students to practise sport or a leisure activity for a healty lifestyle.
This is a challenge also for those responsible (coaches, athletes, leaders, specialists and managers) in the sports system to improve the quality of sport in our region. Malta is a very small country and has to work much harder and professionally to keep the pace with other countries in Europe that are much more developed in the sporting industry.
This proposed project has the full support of many National Sport Association and Fedeearations namely Basketball, Football, Swimming, Waterpolo, Weightliting, Fencing, Volleyball, Tennis, Table Tennis, Badminton, Hockey, Squash, Shooting, Karate, Athletics, Judo, Rugby, Boxing, Handball, Cycling and Canoeing.
All entites shiowed interest and enthusiasim to organise an activity to mark the Central Region of Malta as The European Region of Sport in 2023 which for Malta will be another year of sport let alone mention the two big events already mentioned, the Games of Small European Nations organised by the Malta Olympic Committte under tal auspices of the Goverment Malta and the UEFA Under 19’s histed by the Malta Football Association.
The Central Region will play a big role in such international events as all the facilities of national importance are located in the area namley the National Stadium and the National Basketball Complex in Attard and the National Swimming Complex in Gżira.
ATTARD
National Stadium Complex
The National Stadium Complex, with a capacity of 20,000 seated spectators, is the main facility in the area. It is run by the Malta Football Association. This stadium hosts local National Football Leagues from the top tier and full international matches organised by FIFA and UEFA. This was built in 1981 and rinnovated during the 2016-17 season. This complex also comprises of administration offices, a 25 metre heated swimming pool, a well equipped gyminasium, a medical and physioterapy clinic, a football museum which was opened recently, a restaurant and cafeteria.
Ta’ Qali KMS Outdoor Fitness Centre and High Ropes
This fitness centre is especially suited for those who would like to get back into shape; fit and healthy (ideally for 12 years and older). It is open all day and is free. The gym is intended to complement other exercises and is open all day.
The KMS (Kunsill Malti ghall-Isport) is responsible for the management of the High Ropes Course which is located in the BOV Adventure Park at Ta' Qali. This is a unique attraction, involving an obstacle course of high ropes aimed for both youngsters and adults. The High Ropes Course consists of a fully welded steel framework - galvanised for durability and longevity set on high tensile concrete footings. Due to safety reasons, the structure is not used during high winds. Persons using the structure are first given a brief from on-site qualified instructors regarding the health and safety features of the structure. Participants are equipped with professional harnesses and climbing ropes to support their weight. Although there is no age limit, it is important that one has to be at least 1.5m tall, and weighs not more than 120 kgs.
There are two levels of obstacles. The first lower level, normally tackled by children, consists of hanging tyres, hanging wooden steps, rubber balls and a rope bridge. The upper level, due to its altitude (10 metres high) and the greater physical force required, is tackled by the adults. This upper level consists of hanging tyres and wooden levels to walk on.
The sport facilities and other infrastructer networks in the Central Region of Malta are numerous and various, conventional or non conventional and are run both on a national and local basis.
The extensive network of the sport facilties in the region can be measured by the fact that the population of this region is just over 130,000 citiziens or 28.36% of th whole population of our Maltese Islands. This show that it is vitally to promote sports in such an area which comprises to a large percentage of Malta’s population.
In our region one can find three National Sport facilites in which the sport activities are run annually not only for people living in the area but also for every citizien who loves and practise sport.
National Basketball Complex
The National Basketball Complex, previously used to be a military hanger which was turned into a basketball complex that was recently rinnovated into a modern pavillion with all the necesities for an equipped place where basketball is played in a friendly and familiar comfortable manner. This complex comprises also the offices of the Basketball Association of Malta and another well equipped area where children and youths can practise and play their favourite competitive games.
Centenary Stadium
The Centenary Stadium is a stadium located in Ta' Qali, in Attard very close to the National Stadium. It is able to host 3,000 spectators and serves as the home stadium of the Malta national under-21 football team. The stadium, together with three other stadia, also hosts matches of the Maltese Premier League, the National Challenge League, the National Amateur League and Maltese FA Trophy. The other stadia are the Victor Tedesco Stadium, Hibs Ground and the National Stadium. As early as 1985, the Malta Football Association was already looking to develop a new small stadium. This idea started to take shape on the 11th of October 1998. The development, which consisted of the construction of a main stand and a canopy, lasted less than a year as on the 13th of August 1999 the stadium was inaugurate. In commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the MFA, the stadidum was named the Centenary Stadium.
Badger Karting Club Malta
The Badger Karting Club is a centre of those who are in love with motorsports and wish to start a carrier in this industry. It opened its doors to the public in September 1998. Offering the unique experience of actually racing against friends in a safe environment. A new modern track was inaugurated recently and the premises include also a Café Bar.
Ta’ Qali Park
This park is very close to the above-mentioned attractions and landmarks however this is mostly frequented in the winter season and is aimed as a family park where families can relax and enjoy a day in the open spaces of Ta’ Qali. This place is not strictly a sport center, but its infrastructure or natural spaces are ideal for leisure activities. Running, cycling, and playing football within the family are most popular.
BALZAN & LIJA
The size of these two neighboring villages Balzan and Lija limits the possibility of having their own sports grounds like what is present in Attard. Similar to what they did for the last years they share a sport facility located in one of their schools, but they use this facility to run their hometown Football Academies. Recently, the part of the ground maintained by Balzan was renovated with new dressing rooms and a gymnasium. They both have their football clubs Balzan FC and Lija Athletic FC.
BIRKIRKARA
St Aloysius College Sports and Recreational Complex
This is the main sporting facility in Birkirkara. It is aimed to develop its members’ mind, body, and spirit, by enhancing the quality of life through physical activity thus guiding future generations to a healthier lifestyle.
This college is run by the Jesuits and its Christian values drive their mission to provide indoor and outdoor sport facilities as well as quality pastoral care to College students, their families, and the wider community. This religious group strives to provide excellence in the formation of our members in leading meaningful lives for others.
This recreational complex includes a health and fitness centre, an 11-a-side FIFA approved synthetic football pitch, a six-lane IAAF approved athletics track, an indoor multi-purpose pavilion for handball, volleyball, netball, basketball, badminton, and futsal; aerobics/dance studios; physioteraphy room; conference room; two outdoor tennis courts and a cafeteria. Mediterranean College of Sport
Mediterranean College of Sport is a new venture between St Aloysius College and Vassallo Group, through its subsidiary company, Learning Works Limited, which includes the renovation, modernisation, and expansion of the College’s Sports Complex.
Learning Works, a company providing education and training, developed and operates a new private college specializing in sports.
The new sports college provides various sports facilities, including a new football ground, swimming pool, various gymnasia, and a new sport science centre, all of which will be served by underground parking.
Both students attending St Aloysius College and the Mediterranean College of Sport will benefit from the use of the latest state-of-the-art facilities. After school hours, the complex is also open to sport organisations and the general public.
The new facility also comprises extensive renovations and upgrading of existing facilities pertaining to the current Sports Complex, such as the Sports Pavilion (a large indoor hall designed for handball, basketball and other sports), the gymnasium, cafeteria, and more.
