Minister for Gozo and Planning Clint Camilleri, has welcomed the news that the Executive Committee of the International Island Games Association has unanimously decided that its spring meeting in 2027 will be held in Gozo.
He stated that, “This is a clear demonstration of confidence in the potential of our island in the sports sector. We are honoured that Gozo will be hosting a such an important meeting next year.”
He continued by saying that this is another chain that forms part of the strategy for sports in Gozo, recalling that “over the past few years, a strong investment has been made in sport in Gozo with the completion of the Sports and Aquatic Pavilion which was inaugurated last September and which includes an Olympic-sized swimming pool among several other international-level sports facilities.”
The Gozo Minister said that this facility together with others in Gozo have put the island of Gozo on the international sports map, so much so that in October next year Gozo will host the netball and triathlon competitions during the Commonwealth Youth Games while six other sports disciplines will be held in Malta.
Gozo became a member of the International Island Games Association in 2022 and has already participated in two editions of these games; in Guernsey in 2023 and in Orkney in 2025. Preparations are currently underway for the next edition in the Faroe Islands in 2027.
Minister Camilleri concluded by saying that ”today’s decision is another step forward so that Gozo continues to move closer to organising one of the future editions of the International Island Games.”
Photo: DOI