An event was held at the Cottonera Sports Complex last Friday to mark the completion of extensive renovation works at the Cospicua facility.

“SportMalta employees have been working relentlessly over the past few months to embellish and enhance the overall appearance of the Cottonera Sports Complex in line with the entity’s new branding,” the government’s sports body said in a statement.

The most striking innovation is the new floor of the main hall which entailed an investment of €120,000.

“The flooring is of the highest quality, thus placing the Cottonera SC on the same level as other overseas venues when bidding to host international events and competitions,” SportMalta said.

“Such investment is the result of SportMalta’s on-going efforts to improve the relationship with local sports associations by providing them with the best facilities to practise and attract people to their sport.”

During Friday’s event, spectators were entertained by over 400 SportMalta dance students during a presentation of the Dance Project show.

The performance brought the curtains down on the Be Active campaign and was one of seven main activities held during the European Week of Sports.

Chris Agius, the Parliamentary Secretary for Research, Innovation, Youth and Sport, said the recent investment forms part of a wider upgrading project of the Cottonera Sports Complex in the south of the country.

He confirmed that applications have been submitted to the Planning Authority to build an indoor pool. Works are envisaged to commence early next year.

Agius also mentioned the waterpolo pitch in Birżebbuġa, which is due to be completed in a few weeks’ time, the feasibility study on a new pitch in Marsascala and the possibility of another indoor pool in Kirkop.

Mark Cutajar, chief executive of SportMalta, thanked all the employees who contributed to the upgrading works at the Cottonera Sports Complex.

He expressed his satisfaction at the growing number of participants in the SportMalta summer and winter programmes, claiming that this proves that the entity’s message to bring people closer to physical activity is having the desired impact.

Cutajar encouraged the public to apply for the Winter programme now that the applications are out.

“SportMalta has managed not only to change its image but also its mentality to be the government’s supreme authority in implementing its mission statement to move a ‘nation through the promotion and development of sport for a healthy, inclusive and successful Malta’,” he said.

For his part, Luciano Busuttil,  chairman of SportMalta, said the investment at the Cottonera Sports Complex reflects the entity’s policy to continously support sports associations by giving them the necessary backing to expand their sport.