Lochtenberg to represent Malta in European youth festival
Jessica Lochtenberg (centre) with MOC president Lino Farrugia Sacco (left) and secretary Joseph Cassar outside the MOC offices.
Jessica Lochtenberg will become the first athlete to represent Malta in winter sports competitions, the Maltese Olympic Committee (MOC) said in a statement this week.
The 15-year-old snowboarder will take part in the European Winter Youth Olympic Festival, to be held in Slask-Beskidi, Poland, in February.
MOC president Lino Farrugia Sacco and general secretary Joe Cassar met with Lochtenberg and her family at the MOC's offices in Tal-Qroqq this week. During the meeting, the MOC's top officials discussed Lochtenberg's participation in the youth festival which will take place between February 14 and 21.
Lochtenberg, who resides in Australia, is currently undergoing an intensive training programme in Utah in preparation for these games.
Around 1,600 athletes are expected to compete in the 2009 European Winter Youth Olympic Festival where nine disciplines will be contested.
Lochtenberg has entered two snowboarding events, snowcross and parallel slalom, both competitions to be staged in the skiing resort of Szczyrk GON.
The MOC statement said that president Farrugia Sacco congratulated Lochtenberg for her career achievements and augured that her first participation under Malta's flag will bring her and the country success.
In Poland, Lochtenberg will be accompanied by general secretary Cassar who will act as the chef-de-mission.
The MOC secretary thanked Lochtenberg and her family for their interest in this venture.
Cassar said he was confident that more Maltese athletes will join the Maltese Olympic Winter Sports movement in the near future with the aim of participating in the Vancouver Olympics as well as the first Winter Youth Olympic Games in Innsbruck in 2012.
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Faye Tabone
Jan 13th 2009, 15:44
I think that it's fantastic that Maltese people are competing in a wider range of events. So what if they train abroad,
it's not like they can train for winter sports in Malta, we're not exactly known for being a mountainous country!!
With regards to the comments about people living overseas and representing Malta not being true Maltese I find extremely
narrow minded. I myself live abroad but I still consider myself very much Maltese.
I wish Jessica the very best and hope she succeeds and makes all of us Maltese very proud, those living inside and
outside of Malta.
Frank Borda
Jan 9th 2009, 17:22
I am a pure 101% Maltese. Jessica Lochtenberg is the daughter of my third child Fiona nee Borda born in Sliema. Though she is currently living away fom Malta she has a Maltese passport and is very proud of it.
Bettina Borda Kirk
Jan 4th 2009, 10:05
To C. Formosa & M. Calleja - Did you not read that Jessica Lochtenberg has a Maltese passport ?? Therefore she MUST have a connection. She happens to be my sister's daughter and we are full blooded, proud Maltese citizens !
Why not encourage our Maltese competitors instead of always trying to put them down !!
Go Jess !!
Joseph Cassar
Jan 3rd 2009, 17:03
The Maltese Olympic Committee considers all those who are in possession or have the right to posses the Maltese passport as all having the right to represent Malta in games which fall under its jurisdiction. Ms Jessica Lochtenberg is in possession of a Maltese passport.
Whoever reaches the required standard to participate in international games, whatever the sport may be, can contact the MOC at moc@nocmalta.org and will be given all the attention.
The MOC will consider all Maltese, whereever they live, if we beleive they will bring honour for Malta.
George Mifsud
Jan 1st 2009, 23:06
I'm sure the MOC have done the research - we Maltese living in Australia are still Maltese whether you left the country 100 years ago or 20 years ago. In Australia there is a special Maltese called " Maltin tal-Egittu" that still speak Maltese, kept the maltese traditions and have no relatives in Malta but still call themselves Maltese
We are proud of our heritage and so the Maltese living in Malta have to do likewise since from the comments on the TOM only negative side is coming forth !!!
M CALLEJA
Jan 1st 2009, 18:06
here we go again......... moc digging thru the australian directory of athletes trawling for anyone of maltese dissent to represent malta.
our athletes train in all weather, particularly swimmers, to be ousted out by maltese-australians 6 months prior to the olympics or small nations games.
is this the encouragement our athletes are given?? well done moc once again
C.Formosa
Jan 1st 2009, 10:43
Does Ms Lochtenberg have any connection to Malta?
Forgive me for being old fashioned but I cannot feel proud of a foreign athlete representing my country unless they are first naturalised.