The Malta Olympic Sports Fair got underway at the De La Salle College Gymnasium, Vittoriosa on Wednesday. The College Director Bro Martin Borg addressed the children present, some of whom were from visiting schools, quoting recently-published surveys which indicated that an alarming percentage of Maltese children and youths are physically inactive and tend towards obesity.

Very often, Brother Martin continued, people give the excuse that there are few places where children can train or play and he hoped that the Malta Olympic Sports Fair, with the help of the participating associations, shows that there are many organisations that hold activities which offer children the chance to exercise and have fun at the same time.

It is for that reason that De La Salle College, a school which has always been in the forefront of scholastic sport, decided to organise this fair as one of its activities in 2004 which has been designated the European Year of Education through Sport by the Council of Europe.

The Malta Olympic Sports Fair remains open until today from 9 a.m. till noon in the morning and 6 p.m. till 9 p.m. in the evening. There are 20 informative stands, many with audio-visual presentations.