New Gozo swimming pool & Gozo sports discussed in business breakfast

by Gozo News · December 5, 2015

The sport and its advances in Gozo were the topics discussed in a business breakfast organised by the Gozo Sports Board.

This business breakfast was attended by the Minister for Gozo Dr Anton Refalo, who mentioned the dream of many Gozitans, namely the project of a swimming pool in Gozo, which, he said, will become a reality in the near future. A swimming pool will not only be useful for the youth and for those who enjoy swimming and the sport of water polo, but will also be used by the elderly when they are in need of rehabilitation therapy in the water.

Dr Refalo gave details of the consultation that preceded the call for expression of interest launched for the building and operation of a swimming pool in Gozo. Those who will respond to the call must submit plans for a large swimming pool 33.3mx 20m and a 10m x 5m therapeutic swimming pool, as well as seating for spectators, and changing rooms. The call closes on the 29th of January 2016.

The Minister said that the work being done by the Gozo Sports Board is bearing fruit. Sporting activities are advancing fast in Gozo. He pointed out that this year for the first time Skola Sajf and #On The Move Skolasport was organised in collaboration with SportMalta. Some new disciplines were also added which included sailing among others.

The Minister said that in a few months time honours will be awarded to the best athletes in Gozo, with even more presented than last year, Dr Refalo said. There is another weekend of sports in Gozo planned for April, with the participation of many Maltese who visit the island to take part.

Parliamentary Secretary for Research, Innovation, Youth and Sport Chris Agius was present for the Business Breakfast and also praised the interministerial work carried out between the Secretariat of Sport and the Ministry for Gozo together with the Gozo Sports Board and SportMalta.

He explained how the Government is doing its utmost to improve the infrastructure of existing facilities in Malta and on Gozo, while also improving programmes to offer citizens. "The Government is seen to extend finance invested in sport even for the island that for a long time had been forgotten," the Parliamentary Secretary said.

Parliamentary Secretary Chris Agius announced that for the year 2016, the Government has allocated a little less than a quarter of a million euro in financial assistance to continue to improve sports facilities in Gozo. It will also start several pilot projects specifically for Gozo including volunteer training sessions in sports and physical activity for kindergarten students in Gozo.

The Acting Chief Executive of SportMalta, Mark Cutajar explained that as a result of this collaboration is #On the Move SkolaSport which was a programme specifically for Gozo. "More than 250 participants are taking part, under the guidance of several Gozitan coaches who were employed by SportMalta, therefore keeping with the policy of the Government in generating work in Gozo for Gozitans."

He said that for the first time also SportMalta not only involved the island in the activities organised during the European Week of Sport but also provided financial support for the activities carried out. At the beginning of this month Gozo was also included in the assistance by SportMalta for a shooting range to be built.

"Sport Promotion Unit (SPU) also strengthened its programme in more Gozitan schools, to include activities in schools and even festivals and competitions for primary and secondary schools.

The Chief Executive of the Gozo Sports Board, Alvin Grech explained that when the Board began its work less than a year and a half ago, it introduced several disciplines not yet being practiced like volleyball, basketball and motocross and launched several new disciplines such as soft ball, chess and sailing.

Meanwhile, he explained the vision of the Gozo Sports Board for the future, stressing that in order to advance sport, sporting organisations must be strengthened because they are the cradle of athletes. He stressed that any investment both direct and indirect in these organisations is an investment for our children to have a better sporting future.