The Special Olympics National Games in Malta, between September 25 and 28, are expected to draw the participation of around 400 athletes, including a number of guests from Italy.

Athletes will compete in track and field events at Marsa, aquatic sport at Tal-Qroqq and bowling events at the Eden SuperBowl, St Julian’s.

Competitors, aged eight years and over, will be vying for the medals as Special Olympics Malta will also display its Young Athlete Programme which is aimed at introducing more youngsters to an athletic lifestyle from an early age.

The National Games will kick off with an opening ceremony at the Marsa Sports Grounds on Tuesday evening.

This will include an Olympic torch run which is being organised in conjunction with the Malta Police Force and starts from Valletta.

Six athletes from Special Olympics Malta, two from Italy and eight members of the Police Force will carry the torch.

The opening ceremony will feature key speakers from sports organisations and ministries as well as live musical performances from Renzo Spiteri, Winter Moods, Ira Losco and Nadine Axisa.

The ceremony, free of charge, will be hosted by Pauline Agius.

In a statement, Special Olympics Malta said the National Games would not have been possible without the assistance of Kunsill Malti għall-iSport, the Police Force, Parliamentary Secretary for Sport and the Health Ministry.

“We would also like to thank the Vodafone Foundation for their on-going support,” Special Olympics Malta said.

“There were other sponsors who have donated in kind and the long list of volunteers and athletes’ families, whose contribution and determination were so vital to stage these Games, is greatly appreciated.”

Meanwhile, Special Olympics Malta director, Anna Calleja, confirmed that the Healthy Athlete Programme, to be conducted at the Cottonera Sports Complex, will enable National Games athletes to be checked and screened using specialised equipment provided by Special Olympics International and the Health Ministry.