“This Government’s vision is for every individual to have access to facilities that enable him or her to engage into physical activity.”

Parliamentary Secretary for Research, Innovation, Youth and Sport Stefan Buontempo announced that the Government is working in order to ensure that every locality is equipped with an outdoor gym.

“This is the first time that the Government is embarking on such a measure in order to ensure that sports is accessible for all.”

Dr Stefan Buontempo also announced that the Government is allocating funds to assist local councils purchase equipment suitable for outdoor gyms.

“The money to be invested in outdoor gym equipment will not only be renewed on a yearly basis but increased over the coming years,” he said.

Stefan Buontmepo observed that according to statistics, the rate of obesity amongst adults and young Maltese people is worryingly high and must be tackled sooner rather than later.

“Government started to tackle this issue in earnest. This is being done by promoting physical exercise as from a very early age. In addition, exercise should become part of our lifestyle as a nation.”

Parliamentary Secretary Buontempo explained that this does not necessarily mean participating in competitive sports. Rather, light exercise such as walking and engaging oneself into a light exercise are enough in order to ensure a healthy lifestyle.

Dr Buontempo added that many a time, Maltese people are put off physical activity because it means joining a sports club or getting membership with one of the local gym thereby having to pay high fees. Without doubting the importance of such gyms and clubs, the Parliamentary Secretary noted that not everyone is able to afford such fees, therefore an outdoor gym, that is always available, is very useful. It also lends itself nicely to a society in which time is the rarest comodity.

“In addition to this, outdoor gyms bring families together, hence strengthening the most important nucleus in our society.”

Stefan Buontempo said that when individuals participate in any physical activity as part of a community, there is a higher probability that one engages in the activity more enthusiastically and on a more long-term basis.

Other benefits that one may reap from physical exercise include mental wellbeing and a lesser tendency to resort to destructive habits, the Parliamentary Secretary said.

Every Local Council is being invited to identify the best site where such outdoor gyms would be installed. The Local Councils will be responsible to prepare and embellish the chosen site, carry out cleaning and maintenance of the designated site.

The Parliamentary Secretariat responsible for Sports will be incurring the expenses related to the purchase of the equipment.

The Parliamentary Secretary Buontempo concluded his speech by strongly condemning and warning against any act of vandalism and said that outdoor gyms in every locality shall strengthen society both figuratively speaking and literally.

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