Sporting chance for young

Last week, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi inaugurated the new sports complex in Kirkop, a €3.5 million investment. This complex will be able to host hundreds of people of all ages who want to practise their favourite sport.

… society as a whole has become more active and health conscious- David Casa

The state-of-the-art facility will allow people to practise any of the 15 different disciplines it will be catering for. Furthermore, this can be done in an environmentally-friendly atmosphere.

The opening of this complex is excellent news for those who live in that particular area of Malta and who now enjoy easier access to a healthier lifestyle.

What makes the opening of this complex even more important is the fact that it is not just a one-off project. It forms part of a government strategy that aims to promote healthier and active lifestyles among Maltese citizens.

This complex and others like it are not only available to professional athletes but also to those who want to stay fit and take regular exercise. It is also a very useful way to keep young people entertained and out of harm’s way.

Of course, the opening of a sports complex alone will not solve all the problems that young people may encounter and it is therefore vital that young people are integrated into society as a whole as much as possible.

Conscious of the fact that the young people today will be tomorrow’s leaders, the government is constantly aiming to empower them and to give them growth opportunities.

It is important for our adolescents not only to grow academically but also culturally. The government has recognised this need and, hence, has invested in sponsoring musical projects in collaboration with band clubs and awarded almost 1,500 scholarships, many of which in the fields of arts and sports.

Through the national policy for children and adolescents, youngsters are guaranteed their rights and protection and, through online services such as Be-Smart-Online and kellimni.com, they are offered counselling services and help in various areas.

Adolescence is undoubtedly the most important and formative period of a person’s life. It is thus imperative that we support young citizens not only on their academic growth path but also in their personal development, allowing them to become responsible men and women.

Through sports and physical activities this can be more easily achieved, hence, the importance that this Administration is giving to the matter. One cannot but note that more and more young people are now engaging in different sporting disciplines that until a few years ago we could only follow on television.

Through the sport promotion units in schools, more than 31,000 children take part in some kind of sport. More than 2,000 youngsters use the sport facilities at Tal-Qroqq and almost 13,000 took part in sports events held by local councils.

All this forms part of the vision that this Administration has for the development of this country. The projects are interlinked, which is conducive to greater success and more positive outcomes. Through these projects we have managed to involve people who previously had little awareness of their lifestyle, be it due to lack of information or for other social reasons.

The government’s commitment not to leave anyone lagging behind is certainly paying dividends and society as a whole has become more active and health conscious. Yet, physical activity is not only restricted to children and adolescents. The elderly living in retirement homes are also being involved in sporting activities organised specifically for them.

Doors have also opened for those who want to compete at higher levels. Whereas these athletes depended on individual sponsorships until a few years ago, they can now benefit from special leave that will allow them to train and compete in their specific discipline. All this means that the government is actively supporting athletes in reaching their goals and giving them the tools to succeed.

Since 2008, 33 synthetic pitches have been built, offering youngsters better facilities to practise their favourite sport. Millions of euros have been invested so far and the government is committed to keep up its investments, with the aid of the European Union, so that every individual will be able to practise his/her favourite sport.

This Administration will also be focusing on bringing more sport-related tourism to Malta. The success in this area is already evident. More than 134,000 bed nights have been recorded on the island in three years, with an estimated revenue of more than €7.3 million.

It is clear that the government, through the Ministry of Education and the Parliamentary Secretariat for Youth and Sport in particular, is not just investing in concrete and synthetic turf. It is making a wise investment so that our children and young people grow up stronger, healthier and as more responsible human beings.

Mr Casa is a Nationalist member of the European Parliament.