We Maltese are always complaining about our standards in sports while the ministry resposible for sport is always boasting about the investments made in sports. So why, might you ask, do we not get results? Well apart from a limited choice due to the small population I do not see a great deal of facilities for various sports apart from football due mainly to investments by the Malta Football Association and local clubs taking out huge loans. So when a private investor comes along doing everything on his own steam, investing in professional equipment and professional coaches, do we encourage this?

Well it seems not! Why is it when from this investment, which has been made seven to eight years ago, we finally produce athletes (in this case gymnasts) that are capable to compete and win at an international level, we give them a hard time to send them to compete? They have proven themselves at the Small Nations Games twice and now again in the Small Island Games in Palermo winning silver as a team plus two gymnasts obtaining gold and silver at individuals too. From what the club administration, which my daughter attends, told us parents, it has been a continuous battle with the Malta Olympic Committee to get them to agree to send these gymnasts.

This is probably due to lack of funds. So when the parliamentary secretary speaks of investment in sports, I find it hard to believe. Further to this, as has been written in the letter Forgotten Island Games In Palermo, there has been no mention of the success of these athletes.

It definitely hurts me as a parent watching the hard work and sacrifice made by these gymnasts, whom train three hours a day while trying to keep up with their educational duties, coming back home with new set of blisters every day, not getting the recognition they deserve. All the merit should go to them.

However, their success is also thanks to the club and its coaches, but last and not least to the parents who have invested hugely to send their daughters abroad twice a year for the past five years to compete at international level so as to gain experience.

This has been done with little or no input from the MOC or any other government sportive organisation. Gymnastics may not be that popular here in Malta but for the past three years it has put us on the map of small islands and small nations. The MOC have been of no help whatsoever for the gymnasts to arrive at this level.