Lm220,000 for technical preparation in 2006

For the past six years, top local athletes have been benefiting from the Malta Olympic Committee Athletes Scheme in their build-up to various international competitions, such as the Olympics, the Mediterranean and Commonwealth Games, World and European championships and the Games of the Small States of Europe.

Records show the scheme has indeed been fruitful. Since its introduction in 2000, local sport witnessed a constant improvement in results by Maltese athletes in top international competitions.

This year, the MOC is again renewing its support to the country's elite athletes. In 2006, 18 will benefit from the programme divided between Outstanding, Elite and Aspirant schemes.

Director of Sport Pippo Psaila yesterday revealed that the MOC will be forking out a significant Lm220,000 in technical assistance to these athletes through the schemes.

"During the last six years, these schemes proved to be an essential component in the success of our athletes abroad," he said.

"Despite a very limited budget, we have managed to achieve results that up to a few years ago were just a distant dream. We have constantly improved our level in the GSSE and we also succeeded in striking medal success in more prestigious events such as the Commonwealth and Mediterranean Games."

However, despite the encouraging results, government's grants were still not sufficient to cover costs for the preparation of athletes.

Psaila said that for 2006 government's promised financial aid has dwindled to Lm120,000... some Lm100,000 less than the amount required to cover athletes' preparations for the next 12 months.

Psaila remarked that the MOC will be distributing Lm79,000 in support of logistics (medical schemes, supplements, gym etc) and another Lm92,000 will go to athletes in cash grants. He said Lm50,000 alone will be spent on Malta's participation in next month's Commonwealth Games in Melbourne.

A quick look at the list of athletes to benefit from the schemes, one finds a number of familiar names such as shooters William Chetcuti and Frans Pace, long-distance runner Carol Walsh and swimmer Angela Galea. There are also some new faces that include upcoming sailor Benji Borg and track and field trio Diane Borg, Lara Scerri and Martina Xuereb.

Psaila said those selected are bound by a contract and that anyone who fails to meet the standards expected will be taken off the scheme.

He added that others who show promise during the year could be considered to receive similar assistance.

Other assistance

Apart from government aid, MOC president Lino Farrugia Sacco said his organisation was in a position to meet its financial demands for 2006 thanks also to the financial assistance received from the IOC, EOC, the Mediterranean Games committee and the Commonwealth Games committee.

He shared Psaila's views that the MOC schemes were mainly behind the success achieved by Maltese athletes abroad and added that with more support results would certainly be even more creditable.

"We all followed the exploits of Cypriot tennis player Marcos Baghdatis in the Australian Open lately," Mr Justice Farrugia Sacco said.

"He is coming from a country that up to a few years ago struggled to make an impact in the GSSE let alone tennis Grand Slams. However, the Cypriot Olympic Committee invested heavily in this sport and the result now is for everyone to see.

"Cyprus have a tennis player who is ranked 27th in the world.

"I think we can also aspire to experience such a success story. We have our own world class shooter in William Chetcuti. With a limited budget he has managed to finish ninth in the 2004 Olympics.

"We all think that if he is given the financial support he needs, Malta will also be able to boast a world class sportsman."

Athletes in MOC schemes...

Outstanding Elite: William Chetcuti (shooting).

Elite: Simon Gerada (table tennis), Darren Gilford (athletics), Carol Walsh (athletics), Rebecca Camilleri (athletics), Diane Borg (athletics), Charlene Attard (athletics), Nikolai Portelli (athletics), Mario Bonello (athletics), Martina Xuereb (athletics), Angela Galea (swimming), Frans Pace (shooting), Marcon Bezzina (judo), Reuben Micallef (judo), Peter Valentino (sailing), Benji Borg (sailing).

Aspirant: Therese Mallia (athletics), Lara Scerri (athletics).