This has been a rather turbulent week for the Malta Powerboat Federation (MPF). Instead of celebrating the presentation of the Platinum award to Aaron Ciantar in the 2008 MOC Sports Awards, as many had presumed, we were shocked to learn that he had been precluded from receiving the highest MOC honour, mainly due to incorrect information.
Although in principle the Maltese Olympic Committee (MOC) were in favour of honouring Ciantar, they felt handcuffed in doing so as they claimed that both Ciantar and the MPF had many a shortcoming.
Primarily, the MOC argued that Ciantar was registered with an Italian team to race in the P1 World Championships and were somehow convinced that he raced under a foreign flag. They also added that, above all, the MPF is not an MOC-affiliated federation and as such, its members did not qualify for the MOC awards.
Provided that this was common knowledge to the MOC only, I feel that the MOC should have informed the MPF about the real situation and specify their actions beforehand.
On the contrary, we were led to believe that Ciantar was eligible for honours especially when his achievements were given prominence in the official 2008 MOC Sports Awards souvenir programme.
It's time to set the record straight with genuine hard facts.
Aaron Ciantar, a declared Maltese pilot in his application to race in the P1 World Championships, could only race with P1 once UIM issued a super licence. This is recommended primarily by the MPF as the local governing body of powerboat sport, recognised by the Kunsill Malti għall-Isport and affiliated with the UIM.
Ciantar formed part of an Italo-Maltese team that raced in a Maltese-built boat and showed both the Italian and Maltese flag (see picture) on the winning Conam Yachts Racing Project boat. Furthermore, Ciantar has always hoisted the Maltese flag with pride each and every time he won a race.
The Maltese anthem was always played in his honour by P1, thus recognising that he was representing and racing for our country.
Just imagine if someone dared to call former F1 champion Michael Schumacher an Italian just because he drove a Ferrari.
Another hard fact is that Ciantar was also a recognised Maltese pilot on the books of UIM. On their part, UIM have been recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) since June 24, 2004 when IOC president Jacques Rogge informed UIM president Ralf Froehling that, according to Rule 29 of the Olympic Charter, the IOC took the opportunity to welcome UIM in the Olympic Family.
Had this fact been verified by the MOC, it would have meant that, either way, Ciantar, a member of UIM, would have qualified as a member of the IOC.
Case closed.