A group of up-and-coming athletes from the Malta Amateur Athletic Association (MAAA) will be taking part in the end-of-season international meeting in Brno, the Czech Republic.

Responding to an invitation from the organisers of the European Kids Athletics Games, the MAAA confirmed their participation in this event after securing assistance from the Kunsill Malti ghall-iSport.

This year's meeting is being held on September 19-20. The MAAA athletes will be taking part in the 60m, 150m, 300m, 800m, 1,500m, High Jump, Long Jump, Ball Throw and 4x60m Relays.

The Maltese contingent will be composed of 11 girls and eight boys, aged between 13 and 15 years. These are: Girls - Daniela Gauci Borda, Nadia Tabone and Martina Gerada (born 1994); Jana Pace Cocks, Julie Anne Grech, Maria Sciberras, Yasmine Zammit and Tamara Vella (1993), Analise Vassallo, Janice Borg and Rebecca Farrugia (1992).

Boys - Miguel Bugeja, Christian Luke Chetcuti, Jean Gauci and Daniel Vella (born 1994), Francesco Borg and Robert Zammit (1993) and Steve Camilleri and Jeremy Borg (1992).

Under the rules of the competition, athletes will be grouped according to their year of birth - the best way to gauge the progress of the Maltese prospects vis-a-vis their fellow Europeans.

The MAAA team is aiming to reach the heights of last year's competition in which our young athletes achieved no fewer than 10 podium finishes, including a first in the 300m for 15-year-old girls and gold in the 4x60m relay for youth girls.

In her age-group, Martina Xuereb was also voted as the athlete to produce the most notable performance. To date, 870 athletes have registered to take part in these games.

The MAAA said in a statement that its Council lays great emphasis on the development of its younger members which is why, every year, it tries to find a competition of a suitable level for its athletes.

The MAAA contingent will be under the supervision of Anthony Fava, the MAAA vice-president who is in charge of Youth Development, and Sue Mercieca, council member.