I refer to the letter by Kevin Drake Initiatives To Promote Sports Tourism, (April 6). Firstly, although my letter to The Times appeared on March 30 it was sent on March 25 at 2.08 p.m. Hence, it would have been rather hard to avail myself of the information circulated in the MTA press conference on March 27.
However, I would like to comment that in the MTA letter the name of the "wholly independent company" that valued the PR exposure of MTA sponsorship was omitted. This "wholly independent company" was apparently commissioned not by the MTA but by Sheffield United itself! Whatever the alleged PR value, it is the increase in tourism figures that should be provided, once Mr Drake so pointedly considers this the only remit of the MTA.
I commend the MTA on the fact that a sports specific segment, whatever that is, has been set up within the MTA four years ago. It is encouraging to note that discussions are being held with the Kunsill Malti għall-iSport and the Parliamentary Secretariat for Youth and Sport. All well and good. Now let us see the results and the MTA should commission a "wholly independent company" itself for the sake of credibility.