Sports facilities may soon include commercial centres under proposals unveiled this morning, in a move intended to give additional streams of revenue to organisations running such facilities.

The proposals are part of a White Paper launched today by Parliamentary Secretary Chris Agius at a news conference held at the Ta’ Qali Basketball Pavilion.

He said that the primary aim was to support sport entities boost their revenue, and ultimately reinvest the profits in better facilities and services for athletes.

Under these proposals aimed to commercialise existing and future sports facilities, no kind of “immoral activists or gambling” will be allowed to open. Consequently betting shops and night clubs at sports facilities will be banned.

On the other hand, hostels which could accommodate athletes will be permitted. The parliamentary secretary, however, insisted that clubs would not be allowed to replace existing sports facilities with commercial outlets.

The law will also include provisions to prevent property speculation through regular monitoring and enforcement.

Lawyer Chris Bonnet who drafted the White Paper said the changes would not oblige clubs to become a company nor alter the existing framework regulating the criteria through which public land is given to sports entities. No private investors would be allowed to apply for this scheme.

The consultation period will close at the end of March.