Gozo Sports Awards and Gozo Sports Festival launched

by Gozo News · March 30, 2017

This year’s Gozo Sports Awards and Gozo Sports Festival was launched today by the Minister for Gozo, Anton Refalo. The Festival will be organised in various locations across the island.

The Minister reiterated that the Gozo Sports Awards is when the best in sports will be recognised for what they have achieved and committed to in 2016. There will be rewards over various categories, as well as special awards for athletes who participated in the Special Olympics, as well as those who have made a long career in the field of sports.

Dr Refalo said that in Gozo this April there will also be several sports weekends, with participation by Maltese athletes that will be welcomed in Gozo. Not only that, but there will be a record number of foreigners taking part in the Gozo leg of the Tour ta’ Malta and in the Gozo Half Marathon. “All this is a wonderful advertisement for Gozo.”

The Minister said that the Government is investing in sports and is also committed to improve the existing infrastructure facilities, as well as the programmes provided for the public. He mentioned among others, pilot projects for Gozo, including training for volunteers in sport and physical activity with Gozitan sessions for kindergarten pupils.

Dr Refalo praised the close cooperation that exists between the Ministry for Gozo and the Parliamentary Secretariat for Research, Innovation, Youth and Sport. The Minister also took the opportunity to wish a speedy recovery to the Parliamentary Secretary Chris Agius following his accident.

The CEO of Gozo Sports Board Alvin Grech, said that Gozo sport is finally being given the recognition it really deserves. He reiterated that these awards are an important event in the calendar of Gozo sport to acknowledge the efforts and great sacrifices made by the athletes, coaches and sports administrators in Gozo.

He said that the Gozo Sports Festival will this introduce new disciplines such as Sailing, Tennis, shooting, Table Tennis, Squash and Chess. This festival will be held over a period of one month.

Alvin Grech also spoke about the full cooperation that exists between the Gozo Sports Board, SportMalta, the Parliamentary Secretary for Research, Innovation, Youth and Sport and the Ministry for Gozo, which together have organised various programmes for the benefit of Gozitan sportsmen and women.

He thanked in particular the CEO of SportMalta Mr. Mark Cutajar, Parliamentary Secretary Chris Agius and Minister Anton Refalo for their great support and cooperation.