Active Lifestyle Cup presentation ceremony

A presentation ceremony at the Cottonera Sports Complex last week brought to an end the Active Lifestyle Project organised by General Soft Drinks Company Limited.

In the presence of Education and Youth Minister Louis Galea, general manager Maria Micallef, launched the final stages of this new initiative spearheaded by Coca-Cola International.

In a complex jampacked with cheering students it was very hard to realise who actually were the winners. The joyful atmosphere and the coming together of over 800 students from 10 schools was an absolute success.

"Sport is very important in the education of children as it not only improves their health but help them learn how to work together as a team, Dr Galea said.

"The occasion is in line with projects being organised to mark the European Year of Education through Sports (EYES)," he added.

Ms Micallef said: "The objective of the Active Lifestyle Cup consisted of an interaction between sports and an educational project based on a healthy living. Originated by Coca-Cola International, this programme was developed with schools in mind and aimed to involve teenagers from different age groups both at a sport and an educational level."

The project was intended to convey and promote the importance of an active and healthy lifestyle, fair play in sports and everyday life and the combined physical and intellectual growth of students through interaction and education.

"We were very pleased to see the eagerness of Maltese schools to participate, but it's not just the interest in participating, but the genuine commitment we have seen from the school heads and also the respective teachers. They have taken the project on with great professionalism as if it were their own brainchild. Coca-Cola highly commends such approach as it is reflective of its own commitments", she said.

"Last but not least I would also like to take the opportunity to thank the Ministry of Education for their support and backing. Our intention and commitment is to establish the Active Lifestyle Cup as a major event in the anual school calendar."

This is the first year the event was organised and efforts are already in place to start working on next year's event. All participating schools received Lm100 worth of books on active/healthy lifestyles; three sets of eight football kits for each of their participating teams, and a Coca-Cola token for all participating students.