No change in format as finals night set for Jan. 29

The organisers of the 2010 Għażliet Sportivi Nazzjonali are planning to commemorate the contest’s 40th anniversary in style with a lavish presentations night at the Mediterranean Conference Centre on January 29.

The contest, hosted jointly by the Għaqda Ġurnalisti Sports and the Kunsill Malti għall-Isport, rewards the achievements of athletes, officials and administrators over the past 12 months.

Bernard Vassallo, Kunsill Malti għall-Isport chairman, told a news conference that the main idea behind these awards has always been to raise awareness of the true values of sport and also to recognise the outstanding feats of those seen as role models by the younger generation.

“These awards are a celebration for the entire sporting community,” Vassallo said.

“Throughout the past 12 months, there have been several who distinguished themselves on the sports field and we feel that they thoroughly deserve to be nominated.”

Pippo Psaila is the chairman of the organising committee this year. He announced that those nominated for the finals will be involved in a series of initiatives aimed at promoting sport among youth.

“All 25 nominees for this year’s awards will be making school visits around the country where they will be given the opportunity to meet young students and share their sporting experiences with them,” Psaila said.

Psaila added that the KMS will have a popular sportsman attending the presentations night. However, the name of the special guest was not revealed.

Charles Camenzuli, president of the Għaqda Ġurnalisti Sports, said the same format of the previous editions has been retained with the best sportsman and sportswoman receiving the Benny Pace Awards to commemorate the founder of this contest who passed away earlier this year.

The finalists will be announced on January 21.

The nominations

Sportsman of the Year: A. Borg (snooker), S. Camilleri (waterpolo), W. Chetcuti (shooting), M. Cremona (table football), E. Bonello (cycling), S. Bajada (football), S. Deguara (basketball), B. Hindle Deguara (squash), M. Bonello (athletics), D. Zahra (kickboxing), N. Baldacchino (horse racing), M. Zammit (triathlon), H. Camilleri (hillclimb), M. Gauci (table football), M. Cassar (shooting), M. Formosa (cycling), C. Pace (chess), S. Giordmaina (drag racing), T. Drago (snooker), M. Spiteri (bowling).

Sportswoman of the year: R. Brincat Thoresen (basketball), J. Grima (basketball), M.C. Aquilina (cycling), E. Bezzina (shooting), D. Bonello Spiteri (cycling/triathlon), R. Camilleri (athletics), S. Abela (bowling), M. Bezzina (judo), J. Pace (table ­tennis), D. Mangion (swimming), A. Micallef (swimming), N. Gatt (weightlifting), K. Cassar (tennis).

Official of the year: M. Mifsud Bonnici (sports nutrition), E. Azzopardi (football), B. Vassallo (basketball), J. Caruana Curran (snooker), A. Mizzi (basketball), F. Camilleri (basketball), V. Degiorgio (pool), J. Caruana (weightlifting), M. Dalli (waterpolo), M. Angilleri (waterpolo), T. Camilleri (snooker), S. Catania (table football).

Team of the year: Birkirkara FC, Valletta FC, basketball (men and women), pool, Senglea regatta, 4x100 medley (swimming), triathlon team, rugby team, swimming (FISEC), D. Vella/C. Farrugia (shooting), T. Mifsud/I. Rizzo (snooker), table football.

U-17: C. Sultana (squash), D. Bajada (table-tennis), J. Saywell (judo), N. Gatt (athletics), M. Sammut (swimming), M. Sciberras (athletics), T. Farrugia (athletics), N. Xuereb (shooting), T. Vella (athletics), A. Agius (swimming), R. Cassar (swimming), L. Pace (karting), A. Galea (karting), L. Gauci (karate), J. Micallef Stafrace (golf), N. Muscat (swimming).

Athletes with special needs: C. Dalli, A. Azzopardi.