Challenges through sport

In recent years, Central Government has been committed to decentralising and empowering local communities and local authorities to make the best and most suitable decisions to react to local needs. The government's sports strategy argues that this approach is appropriate for sport and leisure too. The strategy involves markets that vary locally and therefore different places require their own unique strategies. For this reason, the central government has devolved many areas of decision making to the local level.

Another way a sport entity can benefit is through the National Lotteries Good Causes Fund which is set under the Lotteries and Other Games Act, and has the main scope of helping out various individuals, agencies or organisations that

have a social, cultural, educational, sport, philanthropic, or religious activity. Clubs and other organisations from the Central Region have benefited from this fund, intended to support projects and initiatives in support of other deserving causes, in such amounts, as may be determined from time to time after consultation with an Advisory Board.

SportMalta manages also a deduction rebate programme from taxable income for individuals who have paid fees for sports activities attended by children under the age of sixteen. Individuals who have paid fees for sport activities in respect of children are eligible to benefit from this programme.

All this shows that although there is help for clubs and other organisations to organize their sporting activities, volunteers had to work hard to achieve results. We should be grateful for having such dedicated people who give their time for sports without requesting anything in return. Without such volunteers, sports as we know it today would not have been possible.

Some voluntary participation studies have revealed that it is the diversity of factors that motivate people to get involved in voluntary activites. At a community level, the practice of volunteering enhances social cohesion and improves the innovation capacity of the society, develops social support and on a more personal level, it enables citizens to learn and develop skills and contributes to a sense of achievement and motivation.

Promotion of health and integration through sport in social life and fairplay

The promotion of health and integration of our citizens in the community is one of our goals for the immediate future. There are many initiatives and programmes organised locally and on a national level to help us achieve a better future for our Maltese citizens.

There are many programmes some of which organised by Sport Malta which help the promotion of health and integration through sport in all social classes. All this must be in the frame work of fairplay. The stimulation of sport as a tool for social inclusion and cohesion plays a part in the structure of the central region and gives special attention to children and young people who are vulnerable or at a high risk at social exclusion.

The European Week of Sport is a week for everyone, regardless of age, social background, race, religion or fitness level. For six years, the European Week of Sport has helped to tackle the inactivity crisis by encouraging European citizens to embrace a healthy and active lifestyle.

Launched in 2015, the European Week of Sport was created in response to the worsening inactivity crisis. Despite sport and physical activity substantially contributing to the well being of European citizens, the level activity is currently stagnating and even declining in some countries especially due to the pandemic which has led to more people spending time at home rather than going out for a jog or two. There needs to be a plan to ensure that post this pandemic crisis, sports is reintroduced in the daily routine of the majority of the people. Regardless of who we are and what we do, even slight increase in regular, physical activity can have a profound impact on our long-term health. This week is designed to give people across the world a springboard into physical activity.

Sport on the Move is another programme maintained by Sport Malta that offers all age groups to enjoy sports in various localities in our Central Region. Young children programmes are available for children from the age of 4 years to motivate, develop their talents, build confidence and be active at the same time based on the ABC principle (agility, balance coordination and speed).

The Sport START progamme is a combination of different sport activities for children between ages of 7 and 10. Artistic sport like dancing namely Hip Hop, Ballet, contemporary and jazz is also offered at different venues with professional coaches from entry-level to advanced levels. Adults are also offered a various of programmes from artistic sessions like Line dancing, sequence and salsa for ages 17+ and over. These programmes are very popular with seniors of over 60 +.

Swimming sessions are very popular in Malta, and SportMalta invests a lot of resources in teaching and helping children and adults develop their skills and motivates/promotes this sport in a healthy way. Beginners sessions are held for various ages to build confidence in water and enjoy swimming safely. In summer we boast 7000 participants in swimming activities from 400 weekly sessions offered at different times and venues mainly the National Pool Complex at Tal-Qroqq in Gżira.

Sport Malta selection of coaching staff is quite intensive to provide an optimal service to our customers with interviews varying from presentation skills, certification acquired and past proven coaching abilities. This helps management to select the best quality programmes in a bid to give our children and adult participants a quality training session. Moving a nation through the promotion and development of sport for a healthy, inclusive and successful Malta, is Sport Malta’s mission.

Sport Academies includes Triathlon, Gymnastics, Badminton, Horse Racing, Weightlifting. Snooker and Athletics are mainly aimed to attract more children start another sport; besides, Football, Basketball, Waterpolo and Swimming. Be-Active Club, Running and Jogging Club, Bike Club, Adventure Programs and Elderly Programs are other healthy sport programs all aimed for better living and well-being, in our region.

Many successful initiatives have been implemented through health and sport plans, local sports medicine centers and programs to foster sport as a tool to improve health. The sport practice by elderly people is practiced in the Central Region. Walking and jogging are amongst the most popular.

The Central Region in Malta, supports the concept of Special Olympics Malta which is a global organization that serves athletes with intellectual and physical disabilities working with hundreds of volunteers and coaches each year. Since the establishment of Special Olympics in 1968, the number of people with and without intellectual disabilities who are involved with the organization has been growing, but the unmet need to reach more people with intellectual disabilities is staggering.

Special Olympics provides year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with disability. These activities give them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship. Many athletes from the Central Region particpate in activites organised by Special Olympics Malta. Founded in 2000, the registered athletes and unified partners as per the 2019 census stood at:

2679 athletes, 85 coaches, 36 competitions

The official sports practised at Special Olympics Malta are; Athletics. Bocce, Bowling, Cycling, Dance Fitness, Floor Hockey, Football, Golf, Artistic Gymnastics, Hockey, Open Water Swimming, Swimming, Table Tennis and Triathlon.

The Maltese sport legislation ensures a sport practice free from doping, violence, racism, xenophobia and intolerance. The Central Region in all its localities, promotes a fair-play attitude which aims towards a fair and respectful game that represents the authentic values of the sport.