Athletics looking at next generation

Athletics Malta will be sending a group of 17 athletes to take part in the 27th Young Athletes Meeting at the Crystal Palace National Sports Centre in the first week of April.

"When we first sent a group of youngsters abroad for a competition, some eight years ago, there was a lot of scepticism," Athletics Malta vice-president Tony Fava said at a press conference yesterday.

"We were told that the level would be so high that we would scare them off. However, our view was that this would be the first step to opening them up for the international scene and would help break down the inferiority complex among our athletes.

"Time has proved us right so much that this year we are looking at sending athletes abroad to two events as we hope to take in the Brno Youth Games as well."

This year's Crystal Palace meet will be a multi-cultural one with athletes from Norway, Poland, Cuba and the Czech Republic, apart from Malta and hosts England.

Fava also explained that the organisers had obtained funding from the British Council's Youth Exchange Programme and had embarked on a project lending itself to the title of "Co-operation, Friendship and Inclusion through the Medium of Sport."

As a result, the athletes will also be involved in a number of projects during their stay in England.

The athletes in the squad - under the name of Melita - are: Jeremy Borg, Christian Luke Chetcuti, Roberto Faure, Nigel Mifsud, Clayton Sheldon, Robert Zammit, Andrew Cassar Torregiani, Ezekiel Micallef, Stephanie Alden, Jessica Gauci, Julie Ann Grech, Hannah Pace, Jana Pace Cocks, Maria Sciberras, Tamara Vella, Nadine Aquilina and Chloe Gambin.

Earlier, Athletics Malta president Tony Chircop outlined the association's vision for the Marsa track, revealing plans to develop the area behind the track so that athletes could warm up adequately.

"Gaining control of the track was important for us because now we are in control of our future," he said.

"Already we have issued the tender to open the cafeteria that has been closed for over a year now. We will soon be issuing other tenders to have decent dressing rooms and we also plan to have a physio room as well as a gymnasium."

Chircop also called for volunteers to attend the IAAF Level 1 Technical Officials Course that Russian lecturer Elena Orlova will be holding over a period of two weeks, starting on April 4.

International meet

Chircop added that having qualified people is vital for the association if it wants to fulfil its projects. One of these is an International Invitation Meeting on April 26.

Already around 60 foreign athletes from England, Egypt, Tunisia, France and Libya have confirmed their participation.

"This should be one of the best, if not the best, meetings we've ever held here," Chircop said.

He also confirmed that there are plans to allow promising 400m runner Michael Fraser to represent Malta through his parentage.

Having been uncontested at the recent Athletics Malta election, Chircop underlined the progress that has been registered in recent years.

"While ten years ago the association was spending €21,000, our budget is now closer to €186,000," he revealed.

"The biggest portion of our expenditure goes into the development of athletics and the results have proven us right.

"It is why trips such as the one to Crystal Palace are so important for us. We feel that the biggest motivation for an athlete is to represent their country. We notice that when they return home they look more motivated. Mentally, it is a huge step forward."