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The sport facilities and other infrastructure networks in the central region of Malta
Promotion of free sport for all
The practise of sport must be encouraged at least as a recreational character as less than 10% ot the people living in the Central Region are involved in some type of sport on a competitive level. However the percentage of people who practise sport freely is higher and this must be encouraged through various initiatives.
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In the last few years there was a clear increase in the Central Region population that practises sport within the insititutions both private and public that promotes and host its practise. The sporting practise has become a key factor in social relationships and a clear indicator of social approval.
The practise of walking and strolling improves the physical fitness. With the Ta’ Qali Park as the central location in our area to pratise walking in an enviormental way, many citizens from the Central Region like to practise such free sport in this area especially during the weekends. An increase of people who respect their well-being was registered in the last years.
The use of bicycle as means of transport is increasing favoured by the increase infrastructers and measures on our roads to promote more sustainable transport. Recently a Central Link project was inaugurated in our Central Region for a better flow of traffic in the area. This road link has a bicycle lane to encourage people the use of the bicycle safely.
In recent years a type of physical sports trend is beconing important without the need of practise sport in a centre to do physical activity or at a certain time. Thie new trend does not seek sport performance but is driven by the pleasure of doing sport in a different enviornment then the conventional one.
The promotion of free sport for all is priceless and must be encourage to people of all ages. The practise of free sport can be found in cycling, walking/strolling and running. So to encourge more frgee sport our roads has to be safer and friendly. These activites involve the use of a series of facilities that are not within the conventional networks.
Thus such urban spaces such as promonades which in our Region we have plenty (ie Gżira, Sliema and San Ġiljan) are being adapted to accomodate the large number of people who use them for walking and running.
Climate Change
Our towns and cities play a fundamental role in the fight against climate change. The use of bicycles, the public transport and more electric cars are regularly publicized to decrease the number of vehicle on our roads to have a better air pollution.
In Malta the number of ptivate cars has increased substantially with the number of foregin people living in Malta has been blown out of proportion as within years our population has increased from 400,000 to half a million.
With this in mind health and well being; sustainable cities and communities and climate action are the goals that every region must achieve in the coming near future. Our Central Region is in the midst of this problem as many parts of the region and the most populated in Malta mentiong Birkirkara and Sliema without mentiong that the San Ġiljan area the entertainment area of Malta not only the Central Region attracts thousands everyday especially in summer,
Our community is determined to change the type of consumption as an effective way to fight two greatest enviormental threats – climate change and the loss of biodiversity. The most relevant examples in the Central Region are the cities of Birkirkara, Gżira, Sliema and San Ġiljan.
For a better sustainably mobility, processes and action are needed to sneure that the movement of people and goods, services and relationships are carried out with a positive enviormental impact, hence contributing to the fight against climate change, energy saving and efficency, the improvement of health and the reduction of noise and air pollution .
Promotion of Youths in sport on national level
A healty country and a healty region must have a new generation of youths participate in professional sport and not just as a hobby. Leisure sport is healthy but youths to achieve their goals must be determined and ambitious to embrace the Youth Development Scheme revised and launched again in April 2021 by our Maltese Olympic Committee.
As Malta is a very small country a project like this must be run on national level, thus all five regions including our Central Region benefits a lot from such a scheme which encourage more youths ti take sport seriously.
Revised Scheme
The Youth Development Scheme, was previously known as the Youth Elite Scheme. The revised Scheme continues to build on the previous scheme and now includes six categories for athletes born between 2004 and 2009 as well as a category for athletes aged 18+.
The selection criteria is based on the athletes’ projected performance level of each nominated athlete and for which input of the athlete’s coach and affiliated Federation was taken into account.
All MOC affiliated Federations and Association including those located in our region were invited to submit their nominations. All received nominations were thoroughly vetted by a selection Committee set up by the MOC. Coaches were required to fill in assessments.
“The Maltese Olympic Committee was thoroughly satisfied with the level of ongoing communication and close collaboration with all Federations. This kind of co-operation ensures the best possible environment for our athletes to grow and reach their potential” explained Johanna Grech, Youth Commission Chair.
Selection process
Apart from having a selection process based on technical criteria and performance trajectory, the Committee’s projected outcomes from the Youth Development Scheme are three fold:
A - Investment in holistic athlete development,
B - Establishing of an ongoing development journey
C - Building one team for Malta.
Athletes’ placement in one of the six categories were based on their projected performance trajectory.
Apart from financial funding athletes will also benefit from a number of services such as the use of the Functional Diagnostic Laboratory, Sports Psychologist, Sports Nutritionist, Athletic Trainer and other approved services that might be required from time to time. The chosen athletes to particapting in the scheme are regular evaluation and mentoring to ensure they gain the correct guidance and encouragement.
“The Maltese Olympic Committee continues with its commitment to invest in the future of sport. The selected athletes have not only shown commitment and dedication but have already proven themselves by achieving some very impressive results. The amount being invested which is over €70,000 will contribute towards the athletes achieving their full potential. The MOC takes the opportunity to thank Sport Malta for their contribution towards this scheme”said Julian Pace Bonello, President, Maltese Olympic Committee on the launching of this Youth Development Scheme.
Together for the next generation of Team Malta
The 2021 Scheme revised the Youth Elite Scheme that focused on youth elite athletes work towards a long term development journey for each athlete.
Young Maltese athletic talent faces a variety of challenges on their uphill journey to reach their potential, in sport and beyond.
Sport does not play a substantial role in Maltese culture and society, and historically has never been considered more than a hobby or fun activity. While there are new developments to see physical activity as beneficial to obtain and maintain a healthy lifestyle, those focusing on their sport, as a primary development context or career, remain often isolated and face many obstacles and resistance in their pursuit of sports excellence.
In response to these challenging circumstances the MOC committed to work towards the following outcomes:
Selection Process based on Technical Criteria & Performance Trajectory
There is a commitment to support all athletes across sports disciplines who show potential to represent Malta at the highest level. The level of financial assistance and what services this support entails does depend primarily on the potential as determined by Technical Personnel.
Investment in Holistic Athlete Development
Being an Athlete is very different to playing a sport. In a culture almost hostile to making sport a real priority and potentially a career the MOC Youth Commission wants to invest in the next generation in all areas of their identity as athletes and human beings.
Establishing an ongoing Development Journey
The MOC Youth Commission seeks to work closely with the MOC Technical Commission, all associations / federations and other stakeholders of sports development to ensure that athletes are supported all the way from talent-identification to competing at the highest level as adult athletes.
Building one Team for Malta
Within each sport there is only a limited number of athletes with the talent and mindset needed to become a performance athlete. The MOC YDS wants to bring potential future performance athletes together from the different sports disciplines.
2021 Youth Development Scheme Categories
Recipients’ Benefits according to Performance Trajectory
Category I – Global Championships / Olympic Games
€2000 + Educational System** + 4 sessions of Services*** (4 athletes)
Category II – Continental Championships / Global Youth
€1200 + Educational System** + 3 sessions of Services*** (12 athletes)
Category III – GSSE Medallist
€800 + Educational System** + Functional Diagnostic Laboratory Testing (20 athletes)
Category IV – Maltese Champion
€400 + Educational System** (35 athletes)
Category V – Youth Development Pool
Educational System** (30 athletes)
Intermediate +18 Category
Varied Amounts according to Performance Trajectory + Educational System** + 3 sessions of Services*** (7 athletes)
**Educational System is €50 per person.
*** Services always include Functional Diagnostic Laboratory Testing & a selection of Sports related services including Nutrition, Psychology, Athletic Trainers and/or other MOC approved services as required and agreed upon.
The Central Region supports the Scheme
As Malta is a small country a Scheme of this kind helps our five regions including our Central Region a healthy up bringing of our youth generation which we support and look forward that each year participate to eliminate hazard habits in a world which promotes other alternatives without all the sacrifices needed by youth athlete to reach his goals. The Central Region fully support the Youth Development Scheme of the Malta Olympic Committee.
A Communication Plan needed to promote the region’s candidacy
The promotion of the Central Region candidacy as the European Region of sport 2023, depends on a communication plan. The actions of this communication plan must emphasis on the autonomous community will obtain, The promotional events and activities must be enjoyed by the public in general. The general goals of the communication plan to promote the Central Region candidacy are various.
First and foremost is the projection and the organization of an efficient communication with ACES Europe. The plan must be known to those potential agents and the main beneficiaries oif the European Sport region project. Specific objectives are needed regarding the internal communications with a systematize communication to keep the organisatiions informed. People in the region must be encouraged to engage in physical sports activites in all segments of society. An overall strategy is divided according to the target groups so the messages will spread as a result of such a communication plan.
Internal Communication
The internal communication stratedy aims to structure information to be effective, fluid and efficient between the agenbts directly involved in this project.
External Communication
The external communication strategy includes communication to direct recipients and groups of indirect policymakers, the media and society.
Head of Communication Candidature.
An officer must be elected to ensure the proper development of the plan. This officer must have the role of Head of Communication for the candidature. He has to oversee that the plan is carried out successfully as well as top make sure that the communication activites are consistently related with each of the recipient.
Web and IT are the key tools to communicate with those mostly interested in the region. Promotional and reference material besides publications, events and the media as essential to ensure that the message of this project is being communicated. A development of an app to promote the Central Region as a region of sport is essential nowadays in the world of social media.
This app ensure that the message is delivered with fluid communication between the agents participating in the application process and maxsimize the dissemination of the evnt to the Central Region citizens. The different areas of such an app will enables a quick look to interested users to observe the development of the whole project.
The evaluation of the KPI’s which includes social networks (such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Youtube) newsletter and website ensure compliance within the planned communication actions and facilitate effective and transperent project management for the application in general.
The espected KPI’s results of the activities of diffusion and communication must be defined at the beginingof the holistic plan.
A Healty practise; construction of values; integration into society; an economic activity; a mass spectacle; a tourist attraction; enjoying the nature enviorment and a relevenat instrument of leisure are a multitude of additional aspects why sport since its origin has been a source of passion and an exponent of the many capacties of a human being. Sport is a universal language and represents one of the most important influencial social phenomens in today’s society.
In our candidacy for the Europe Sport of Region 2023, the main objectives of ACES Europe manifesto regarding the values of sport allow us to establish an ideal setting to promote well-being and the happines through sport of all citizens living in the Central Region of Malta.
Sport is an excellent alternative for healty leisure , a source of fun and enjoyment with other people. Our Central Region is a priveleged destination for practising all kind of sport indoor and outdoor, on land or in our seas that surrond us. Sense of community emphasizing the right of citizens to practise sport and access to it by different social groups. The promotion of sport for people with disabilities and the elderly, are improving their quality of life.
The sport practise recorded an increase of people of various ages in sport participation in the last five years in the region. More citizens are relating sport to a healty life style and need to practise sport to live a healty life away from a plenty of massive healty hazards. It was recorded that more than 60% over the age of under 15 have practised at least once during the past couple of years.
Physical sport activities in our schools in the Central Region are practised at the school-age level during school hours. There are non-school hours of practise and are of voluntary participation. Such programmes combine the technical aspects related to the values of fair play. We must promote peace and harmony in sport persevering fair play to identify human values in sport. This includes the eradication of violnce, raxism, inolerance and xenophobia in sport.
Thus sport in the Central Region is considered an activity of general interest that fulfills educational, cultural, social, economic and healthy function directing sport practise towards the integral development and the achievement of values of our citizens . Such values infuse healty habits and żimprovments of public health.
In recent years it was noticed an increase in the Central Region population that performs sporting acivities in the private and public organisations. Sports reality has become one of the most dynamic activity in our society linked to tourism, health, education, culture and leisure.
In the years 2021 and 2022, the Central Region considers a series of initiatives and campagns as future European Sport Region. Active Ageing promotion
In line with the policies of the World Health Organisation and the European Union and in order to promote healty and active ageing the Sport Physical activity programme for citizens over 55 years old must be included altough a programme in this sens is already implimented in the Be Active programme of SportMalta.
Sport in Schools is a must
Sport in Schools should be included from the very begining of a student’s life. Physical sport activites must be planned an possibbly teached during school hours. This will help increase the rate of sport practise amongst the school age population. Olympism has to be in all childrens minds with the objective to disseminate the values of sport and the Olympic ideology within primary schools students.
Malta has never won a medal in the history of the Modern Olympics, parecipatuing in every edition. This may create a barrier of non-popularity of the biggest sporting event in the world on pur mainland. Schools in our Central Region do all they can to attract children from their childhood to love sport either as athletes or spectators.
Women in Sport
The partecipation of women in sport has to be given attention as the number of women in sport in Malta is not high. Their must be a holistic plan to attract more women to sport which must be introduced on a national level not on a regional one.
Walking, running, jogging and gym training is mainly popular amongst women in our region. Their are programmes of sport activites exclusively fo women but a campaign to attract more women to sport must be part of a Sport and Equality programme which has the aim to raise awarness among sport organisations to achieve real equality for women in the field of sport in the Central Region through different actions.
The need of mentors
To support these initiatives , all programmes need more mentors to attract citizens to sport. Elite sportmen and sportwomen must be included in every programme that promotes sport to attract people to healty lifestyle habits and sporting values in children and young people. Progressively these mentors bring training in values and the promotion of healty habits to the schoolage population at different levels. This will constitute a remarkable interest in the training and particiaption in sport in our Central Region. This programme can help the fight to eradicate obesity in our children which in Malta is the highest in the European Union.
Malta Rugby Football Union (MRFU)
As the sole recognised body to represent the Sport of Rugby Union in Malta & Gozo, the Malta Rugby Football Union’s (MRFU) is to promote Rugby Union and its variations to as many people as possible. This is done through the hosting of activities that showcase the game to various groups of people of varying ability.
The foundation of the Union’s Activities centres on the traditional format of 15-aside rugby union, with the local 15s League and Cup being the MRFU’s tentpole events since its conception, having been a natural progression following the formation of local clubs to compete against the resident British Armed forces teams during their time in Malta. Since then, Maltese Rugby has excelled in exceeding expectations that the resources available to it allow, and thanks to these efforts, the Union is proud to have a world class Men’s National Team which currently ranks 38th Globally, with eyes set on higher rankings and promotion into higher level competitions.
Recent years and global trends have also seen a boom in offshoots of the traditional game, primarily in the form of 7-aside rugby, which is also the Olympic Standard form of Rugby Union. This fast paced variation of the game has attracted a whole new subset of athletes to the sport, and is one of the fastest growing forms of the sport in world. Locally, this version of the sport is also the cornerstone for Women’s Rugby, with the Women’s League growing year on year as more women’s teams form and the skill level of all players grows to provide a whole other exciting facet to the local game. The inclusion of Rugby 7s in the 2023 edition of the Games of the Small States of Europe which will be hosted in Malta, has been nothing but a boost for the Local Rugby Community, creating further opportunities for the promotion of the sport on the local stage with promotional programmes to introduce rugby in schools and to the general public already underway. It also goes without saying, that the National Team Structure is gearing itself up to win Gold in the 2023 games.
All this plays into the community aspect of Rugby, with game days being as much a social event for all as they are showcases of local sporting competition. This community aspect is what drives the Union to further its hosting capabilities through a jam-packed calendar of locally hosted international events. Whilst the Home matches for the men’s 15s National Team are the showcase events for the MRFU, allowing the Union to present the sport on a grand stage in a local forum, the Union’s ever expanding roster of locally hosted international tournaments, have made Malta a landmark location for touring rugby teams. The international club tournaments hosted throughout the season, covering 7s and 15s, for Men, Women, Youths, and even Veterans, have become annual events for many a club throughout Europe, developing with each year to allow for more teams and grander showcases. These events not only showcase Malta as a travel destination for sports teams, but also giving the MRFU exceptional opportunities to expose the local player base to a variety of new challenging teams, furthering their development.
All of this has given the MRFU the pleasure of cultivating a community with cornerstone principles of Rugby, Respect, Discipline, Teamwork, and Fun, at its core. Providing a Sporting environment for all its members, ranging from those looking for a social way to stay fit up to those aiming for the privilege of representing their country on the International stage.
What is Esports?
Esports consists of the competitive side of videogames, wherein players and teams compete against each other in organised competitions. Esports tournaments range from casual events to amateur and professional level of play, with live streaming and broadcasting having seen the activity surge in popularity, exposure and professionalism.
Whilst most video-games do not lend themselves to being played competitively, the development of an esports title requires an even more specific set of circumstances, including the size of the playerbase, viewership, the existence of organised leagues and large prizepools and in-built competitive game design, rulesets strategic depth and a high-skill ceiling. Esports consists of a multitude of videogame titles with several different categories. Amongst the most popular esports titles, one may find League of Legends and Dota 2, two examples of the multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) genre, CounterStrike and Valorant, two tactical shooter games, whilst other genres include real time strategy, battle royale, sports and racing simulators fighting and card games amongst others.
As esports is played over the internet, esports benefits greatly from the fact that the interface transcends borders. At any time of the day, people from around the globe can be competing against each other, and it is very common to have multi-national teams competing at most events. Furthermore, since broadcasting of esports tournaments largely occurs over streaming websites such as Twitch and Youtube as opposed to television, content is easily accessible, and distributed equitably around the world. Total esports viewership is expected to reach 646 million by 2023, doubling viewership in 2017.
What is the Connection between Esports and Sports?
Esports has developed a professional scene, with professional leagues, players and team brands, with sponsors and investors who are both endemic and non-endemic to the industry. Many traditional sports leagues and teams are now turning to esports to target a younger audience. FIFA, UEFA, Formula 1, the NBA and the Olympics have all organised their own esports championships, involving traditional sports teams such as Paris Saint Germain, Bayern Munich, Barcelona and AC Milan.
Like any other competitive activity, success in esports requires skill, study, quick reactions, accuracy, strategy and teamwork. Whilst the activity does not have the same physical requirements of physical sports, physical and mental wellbeing plays a very important part.
Esports & the ACES Values
Esports and sports push participants to be the best version of themselves, and we wish to see this similarity used to meet the shared values:
Enjoyment in exercise;
Videogames are designed to be fun and competitive. With the right eduction, esports can act as a gateway for individuals who lead sedentary and immobile lifestyles to want to invest in physical activity in order to be better.
Willingness to achieve;
Esports is all about competition and reaching new heights, whether its in national or international competition.
Sense of community;
Esports introduces players to a broad spectrum of nationalities, cultures and beliefs. The normalisation of such multi-cultural interaction helps in creating a sub-culture which is not defined by their differences, but rather by their common passion.
Learning fair play; and
Fairplay and sportsmanship are necessary learning outcomes for any competitor, whether in sports or esports.
Improvement of health.
The necessity of a good fitness level, not just physical but also mental is necessary for success in any competition.
Status of Esports in Malta
Esports is quickly developing as both a popular activity amongst Malta’s youth, as well as an economic niche for the country, fulfilling the sub-sectors of sports tourism as well as the videogame development and tech industries.
Malta has already played host to a number of international tournaments, attracting international top teams from around the world to compete on stage in Malta, but also there is a budding local community numbering several thousands, serviced through grassroots initiatives such as community events, national tournaments and other initiatives. Furthermore, a large community of young expatriates and other digital nomads living and working in Malta has increased the number and quality of esports enthusiasts and competitors on the island. Many Nordic and German youngsters, both countries with strong esports cultures, are being integrated into the local community through esports.
Esports within the Malta Region of Sports
Esports involved within Malta’s envisaged activities for the Malta Region of Sports will include educational initiatives focusing on the following:
1. The importance of an active lifestyle;
2. Good nutrition;
3. Prevention of match-fixing;
4. The competitive mindset; and
5. Mental health.
Activities organised shall also include workshops which will involve opportunities and learning outcomes, such as the opportunity to test out professional-grade racing simulators, and also the hands-on teaching of skills such as teamwork, broadcasting and more.
2023 Sports Events and Activities programme
The Central Region is an ideal place for sport. Some locations in the region are popular to practice sport with an enviable climate. Indoor and outdoor facilities are available thus a range of events in different disciplines are organized throughout the year.
Aquatic sport is most popular during the summer season namely swimming, waterpolo, sailing, windsurfing, underwater diving, water skiing and more. In the winter season all team sport football, basketball, volleyball, handball etc are available but other disciplines such as cycling, triathlon, running and a challenge marathon are practised to mention a few. Programmes at training level are various.
In view of the 2023 Euro’ Under 19, the Malta Football Association is planning to build a new stadium in its training areas near the National Stadium and this will make the Ta’ Qali area a sustainable location for sport. In this area there are the National Stadium, the Centenary Stadium, the MFA training grounds and there are plans for a new stadium.
The SportMalta and the Parlamentary Secretary for Sport will see that all other sport facilities must be in place to host the 20th edition of the Games of Small Nations to be held in Malta in June. A budget for the refurbishment of the facilities is already allocated by the central government. This has already started to maintain the facilities and the National Basketball Complex in Attard is an example of one of the facilities already in place and was inaugurated in December 2020.
During the Small Games of Nations there will be competition in the sport disciplines of athletics, swimming, judo, tennis, table tennis, shooting, rugby sevens, squash, sailing and basket 3x3. It is estimated that 1,000 persons which includes athletes and officials will be in Malta for this international event.
The National Association, clubs and other sport organization in the Central Region can only gain from the refurbishing of infrastructure and the building of new facilities.
EVENTS PLANNED FOR 2023
Event Month
Malta Marathon
Games for Small Nations Europe February
May
UEFA Euro Under 19’s June/July Malta Open Bowling Championships June Location
Ta’ Xbiex/Gżira/Sliema
Ta’ Qali Attard/ Gżira
Ta’ Qali Attard
San Ġiljan
Birkirkara St Joseph Sports Club Calendar of Events 2021
running – cycling – swimming – triathlon
June 23
Open Sea Swim 1 Sprint Triathlon 1 5K Running Series 1 Open Sea Swim 2 BSJ Arch Criterium
Open Sea Swim 3
July 23
Sprint Triathlon 2 Open Sea Swim 4 5K Running Series 2 Open Sea Swim 5 Open Sea Swim 6
August 23
Reserved for OWS Postponement 5K Running Series 3 (Malta)-Gozo-Malta Open Sea Swim
September 23
Sprint Triathlon 3 Sprint Triathlon 4 Reserved for Sprint Triathlon Postponement
October 23
Ocean Lava Malta Middle Distance Tri
November 23
Malta International Challenge Marathon 1 Malta International Challenge Marathon 2 Malta International Challenge Marathon 3 Sportsday for Government Schools
December 23
BSJ 10K/5K Road Races and Walk
January – May 2023
Football under 16 Regionnal Cup Rughy tournament Regional Cup Women football ( Football for all ) in Govement schools
March – May 2023
BMX 2 kilometres
750m swim, 5 kilometres, 2 kilometres 5 kilometres
2 kilometres
2 kilometres
750m swim, 5 kilometres, 2 kilometres 2 kilometres
5 kilometres
2 kilometres
4 kilometres
To be advised
5 kilometres
5.5 Kilometers
750m swim, 5 kilometres, 2 kilometres 750m swim, 5 kilometres, 2 kilometres
1900 meters swim, 90 kilometers bike, 21 kilometers run
16 Kilometers
5 Kilometers
21 Kilometers
10 Kilometers / 5 Kilometers
