The Gozo-Greyhounds Youth Athletic Club has been representing the Qala Primary school on Saturdays during February at the Marsa track in Malta for the MAAA Track and Field races.

Louis Debattista of the Gozo Greyhounds said that the team was made up of Matthew, Pamela, Nathan, Nicole, Alice and Cennie participating in the 60M sprints, 300M and 600M. “Nice work! I was happy to see them trying.”

“In Gozo we have a track at the Boys’ Secondary School, it’s a shame, but we can’t use it because it’s under Kunsill Malti Ghall-Isport and we don’t have access.” Louis added, “there are so many obstacles- so for the time being, the Gozo-Greyhounds continue to train primarily on the road and sometimes in Xewkija at the horse track and sometimes on the steps to Lourdes near the harbour.”

Louis said, “every Saturday if there is no race then we go to Marsa and train with other clubs or schools. Why all this travelling for us when we have a track in Gozo? There’s so much talk about obesity and how we need to get kids more active, but a person volunteering time and energy to an athletic club or similar organisation has to deal with a maddening amount of red tape and bureaucracy.”

He stated, “the kids try and train hard and I try to make sure they have the chance to compete and train, but it is discouraging to feel like I have to do it all myself without any real support from anyone else. I do not charge any money, it’s a purely volunteer effort, and when we travel to Malta the families cover the transportation costs and entry fees.”

“If we and other interested runners/athletes had access to the track and there was a simple system of reimbursement for Gozitan athletes traveling to Malta to train and compete, it would be a meaningful way of providing support and meeting goals of having a healthier and more active population, particularly among the younger generation,” Louis said.

“Yes, I Know I have to submit an club application to the KMS; I did that in November, they finally got back to me just last week, requesting yet more information and saying I must first be affiliated with a national federation!”

Louis added, “it just goes around and around- what a frustrating process. I am so tired; there really should be a less complicated way for clubs and individual volunteers to get support and funding. Also youths, adults, and kids would like to use the track at the secondary school but they need access 3 times a week for training.”

There will be no Gozo-Rocks-Clean & Green Hike on the 2nd of March because a lot of the kids are involved in Carnival activities, but we will continue the hike on the 9th of March, Louis said.

For further information on the the Gozo Greyhounds Youth Athletic Club, or the ‘Gozo-Rocks-Green & Clean Hikes,’ please contact Louis through the Gozo-Greyhounds facebook page, or email him on louismalti@aol.com.

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