Ciantar favourite for Platinum

Powerboats pilot Aaron Ciantar is hot favourite to receive the Platinum medal in this year's MOC Sports Awards following his nomination yesterday for the year-end activity which recognises the achievements of Maltese sportsmen/women on the local and foreign scene.

The annual awards, organised by the Maltese Olympic Committee (MOC), have now reached their seventh edition. The presentations ceremony will be held on December 7 at the Excelsior Hotel, Floriana.

Pippo Psaila, chairman of the MOC Sports Awards committee, yesterday told reporters that during the past 12 months local sport witnessed with some outstanding performances in different disciplines.

"2008 will be remembered as one of the most successful years for Maltese sport," Psaila said.

"We had sports personalities leaving their mark outside our shores, some even crowned world champions. Indeed, a great feat for a small country like ours where sports finances are very limited."

Psaila said there are 23 nominations from 11 different sports in the 2008 awards list.

"A commission will now evaluate the result achieved by each nominee before finalising the list of winners," he said.

"We can also confirm that, given the prestige of some results achieved, the MOC will again be awarding the Platinum Award this year."

So far, shooters William Chetcuti and Rebecca Madyson have been the only ones to be awarded the top prize in 2005 and 2006 respectively.

Ciantar is an outright favourite to follow suit after winning the 2008 Supersport P1 championship aboard Conam Yachts.

This year, Ciantar opted to join Angelo Tedeschi and the Italian team after five years racing with his sister Audrienne for Portomaso Chaudron.

Chetcuti is again in contention following his eighth placing at the Beijing Olympics.

Other impressive results came from the women's basketball team in the European Division C and the pool team, winners of the World Championship, among others.

This year the MOC will be introducing a new award for local councils to recognise the best contribution to sport at national level. The councils nominated are Mellieħa, Sta Luċija, Pembroke, Floriana, Iklin, San Ġiljan, Naxxar, St Paul's Bay and Xagħra.

On December 7, the MOC will also announce a list of sports personalities to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. Last year, six former athletes and administrators were honoured for their contribution to local sport.

The Malta International Airport are the main sponsors of the gala night which will be presented by Charles Camenzuli, Louise Tedesco and Miriam Dalli.

List of nominees

Women's basketball team; pool national team; C. Attard (pool); S. Parnis (lawn bowls); Elusive crew (sailing); A. Ciantar (powerboats); S. Ripard (sailing); T. Zammit Tabona (sailing); W. Chetcuti (shooting); R. Bugeja (shooting); C. Farrugia (shooting); C. Farrugia/D. Vella (shooting); W. Vella/L. Darmanin (air-rifle), women's squash team;

A. Olivieri Munroe (squash); T. Brousson (squash); R. Gambin (swimming); M. Scerri (swimm-ing); J. Borg Bonaci (table football); B. Farrugia (bowling); D. Galea (triathlon); K. Galea (triathlon); waterpolo national team.