Questions about sports funding

I have been following with interest the recent spat between the Maltese Olympic Committee and the Malta Sports Council (KMS) over the issue of sports funding in Malta in the aftermath of what many regard to be the poor results in the GSSE in Cyprus some days ago.

The Malta Sports Council is irked at the fact that it is not getting enough recognition from the MOC for its contribution towards sport in the way of funding for technical and infrastructural facilities.

Funding is undoubtedly most crucial for all federations, as it is becoming more and more difficult for most of them to promote the sport and prepare athletes adequately for their international commitments. Perhaps the time has come for a change in the present system of funding federations.

KMS allocates the MOC an annual amount which is then distributed by the latter to all the different affiliated federations, for both Olympic and non-Olympic disciplines.

Many are of the opinion that the criteria used by the MOC for the distribution of these funds among the federations lacks transparency. The funds allocated to Olympic Sport Federations participating in the GSSE are based according to the possibility of athletes reaching the podium. While in a couple of sporting disciplines it is possible to be more or less on the mark vis-à-vis minimum qualified standards (MQSs) based on timings, the same accurate criteria cannot be applied to other disciplines, especially team sport.

And when it comes to the funds allocated to the federations representing non-Olympic sport, what criteria is used? Is each federation allocated the same amount? Should not a detailed statement showing how much funds were allocated to each and every federation be presented at the MOC annual general meeting?

The criteria being used for selecting participants, in GSSE and Mediterranean Games, is also subject to some criticism. As I mentioned above, a couple of federations are subject to MQSs while for other disciplines, where performances cannot be assessed with accuracy, there are other selection criteria.

Winning of medals has become an obsession for the MOC and unfortunately it is negatively affecting a number of athletes and consequently the federations they represent. Importing athletes for the sake of winning medals is not helping Team Malta, either. It is a short-term policy which in the long run will have a negative effect on our locally-groomed athletes who work so hard to be able to fly the colours of our country with dignity.

Many will agree that the GSSE and the Mediterranean Games, and the big international sporting events for that matter, should not be the platform for promising athletes to gain experience. On the contrary, these regional and global events should be open to those with realistic prospects of participating with dignity, however subjective this might be. But then, should the athletes be sacrificed on the altar of podium-making ruthlessness?

I take this opportunity to congratulate all our medal winners who have been rewarded for their constant hard work as well as the others who broke national records or obtained personal bests and in so doing may have just missed the podium.

To those who for all their genuine efforts did not form part of Team Malta to Cyprus, the message is Keep up the good work, never give up or be disheartened.