A new category has been added to the list of honours in this year’s MOC Sports Awards, to be held at the Corinthia Palace Hotel, Attard, on December 3.

The Category of Merit will honour those athletes who do not compete in open championships but still manage to leave their mark on the international scene, Mark Cutajar, chairman of the organising committee, told reporters at the Maltese Olympic Committee (MOC) headquarters in Tal-Qroqq, yesterday.

“The decision to add another section to the MOC Sports Awards has been taken because we felt the need to reach a wider pool of athletes in this annual event,” Cutajar said.

“This will ensure that all the sportsmen/women who do our country proud, receive due recognition at the end of the year.”

The Platinum Award remains the most prestigious accolade on the list followed by the gold, silver and bronze titles.

This year, the MOC received 75 nominations from 24 different national associations.

After a thorough evaluation, they approved 47 candidates from 23 sport with the winners announced at next month’s gala night.

“For us, the MOC Sports Awards are a celebration of sport, an occasion where our athletes are the main protagonists,” Cutajar said.

“This year, we achieved a series of excellent results in different arenas and this bodes well for the future of our sport.”

Special guest

The organisers announced that a special guest – Olympic gold medallist Roberto Di Donna – will attend the awards night at the Corinthia.

“We are honoured to be hosting Roberto Di Donna for the MOC Sports Awards,” MOC president Julian Pace Bonello said.

“The Italian has won a gold medal in the 10m air pistol at Atlanta 1996. During those Games, Di Donna also added a bronze medal in the 50m air pistol shoot. His presence will add prestige to the occasion and we’re all looking forward to having him with us.”

It was also confirmed yesterday that another small group of former athletes and sport administrators will be inducted into the Hall of Fame.

The names of the new inductees will be revealed on December 3.

Nominations

Athletics: R. Chouhal, C. Wingfield, L. Bezzina.

Badminton: M. Abela, S. Cassar.

Basketball: Women’s national team.

Bodybuilding: L. Debono.

Bowls: D. Farrugia, S. Farrugia, G. Gemelli, R. Farrugia.

Boxing: H. Laamouz.

Bowling: S. Abela, T. Carrannante, N. Sullivan, M. Spiteri, S. Montanaro, E. Xuereb, S. Xuereb, M. Magro, S. Psaila, A. Schembri.

Cycling: M.C. Aquilina, S. Alden, D. Bonello Spiteri, H. Pace, M. Pullicino, M. Vella Wood.

Darts: N. Attard.

Golf: J. Verelst Micallef, A. Borg, R. Critien, L. Schembri.

Gymnastics: S. Grillo.

Pool: Men’s national team.

Horse racing: A. Demanuele, R. Gatt, C. Camilleri, J. Farrugia,

Rugby: Men’s national team and women’s sevens team.

Sailing: V. Schultheis.

Snooker: B. Cini, A. Borg.

Shooting: W. Chetcuti, N. Attard, G. Chetcuti, N.L. Xuereb.

Squash: K. Sultana.

Table football: J. Pisani, D. Conti, S. Bartolo, J. Balzan.

Triathlon: D. Bonello Spiteri, K. Galea, H. Pace.

Tennis: H. Pellicano.

Waterpolo: Men’s national team.

Weightlifting: P. Psaila, K. Micallef, R. Pulis, Y. Zammit Stevens, R. Agius.