Thursday, August 11 was a memorable occasion for Exiles Sports Club, one of the most forward-looking clubs on the island. The day was marked by the official inauguration of the club’s new premises beneath the historic tower along the Sliema front and overlooking the St Julian’s bay.
Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi inaugurated the premises which had long been planned by the club to serve primarily the players and members and also the general public who frequent the place.
Works were completed within four months of the club being granted planning permission.
Dr Gonzi praised Exiles’ initiative in going for this ambitious project, stressing that sports facilities and their enhancement were central to government’s aim to promote sport further for the benefit of athletes and also for the good of the public.
“The development of club facilities such as those of Exiles SC complements the beauty of the surroundings in Sliema and St Julian’s. The different waterpolo clubs in the area add to this attractiveness,” the Prime Minister said, stressing that a sports mentality is conducive to a healthy society.
The founders of this club 45 years ago should feel proud of the legacy.
Dr Gonzi said that government wanted to be a model for the private sector through associations and clubs to invest in sports facilities.
He revealed that 13 aquatic clubs in our islands administer land in prime areas which is worth about €13 million.
On his part, Exiles SC president Andrew Paris thanked Dr Gonzi for accepting the invitation to inaugurate the new premises and said that this was another dream fulfilled in the history of the club.
He said that Exiles SC will en-deavour to be among the flag-bearers in promoting aquatic sport in our country. The club’s relatively young history is testimony of their past and present administrators’ resolve to give a valid contribution to this effect.
The work of Paris’s predecessors, Mr Justice Gino Camilleri and Karol Farrugia, in this respect deserves special mention.
Also addressing the 700-strong gathering at the well-laid out club platform was Clyde Puli, Parliamentary Secretary for Youth and Sport.
He dwelt on the importance of widening a sports culture especially among the younger generation.
He gave statistics in this regard and mentioned the contribution of waterpolo and swimming as prime aquatic sport disciplines here.
Puli mentioned as an example that progress in swimming has been significant in Malta especially with a spate of records in the last two years.