The Ghaqda Kittieba Sports have been forced to put the Sportivi Nazzjonali Contest 2007 back by 24 hours as it was going to clash with the Song For Europe Festival.
Charles Camenzuli, president of the sportswriters association, told reporters that the presentation night had been initially pencilled in for Saturday, January 26 at the Westin Dragonara.
However, the organising committee decided to shift the awards night to the next day, Jan. 27, after it was announced last Wednesday that the popular Song For Europe Festival was being held on the same night.
A glance at the list of nominees would reveal the absence of last year's winners in the main individual categories - Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year - shooters William Chetcuti and Rebecca Madyson.
The absence of Chetcuti, who had won the top award for five consecutive years, means that the Sportsman of the Year award will have a new winner for the first time since 2002.
Football is strongly represented in this year's awards with Gilbert Agius and Michael Mifsud vying for the Sportsman of the Year Award while the national team has been shortlisted for the Team of the Year honour which also includes last year's winners, Chaudron Powerboat Team.
Track and Field athlete Francesca Xuereb, who finished fourth in the World Junior Championships, obtained a rare feat in this year's awards as she is nominated in two categories, Sportswoman of the Year and the John Debattista U-17 award.
Bernard Vassallo, winner of the 2006 Official of the Year award, is also among the seven finalists which also include Malta FA president Joe Mifsud who, this year, was re-elected to the UEFA Executive Committee for another four years.
Five athletes who excelled in this year's Special Olympics will also be honoured. These are swimmers Sylvana Cassar, Alexia Wetz and Chris Gregory and gymnasts Nathalie Galea and Brian Muscat.
Camenzuli said the list of nominees was established according to a points accumulation system devised by a sub-committee which includes awards founder Benny Pace, Willie Vassallo and Mario Meli. This formula aims to reward the feats by Maltese athletes both locally and in international competition up to December 31, 2007.
The five finalists in each of the five categories will be revealed on January 12 during a meeting with Louis Galea, the Minister for Education, Youth and Employment, at St James Cavalier in Valletta.
Camenzuli said this year's winners will be determined by the usual voting system whereby sports editors of local newspapers and TV sports coordinators will be asked to cast their vote that will amount to 25 per cent of the overall result.
Member journalists of the Sportswriters association will also take part in the ballot.
It was also confirmed that another veteran sports journalist will receive a special prize for his contribution to sport.
Last year, Pace was presented with a memento by the GhKS.
Sportivi Nazzjonali - Nominees
Sportsman of the Year: G. Agius (football), E. Bonello (cycling), S. Camilleri (waterpolo), R. Chouhal (athletics), M. Cremona (table football), G. Curmi (drag racing), S. Gerada (table tennis), D. Gilford (athletics), M. Mifsud (football), N. Portelli (athletics), M. Spiteri (bowling).
Sportswoman of the Year: S. Abela (bowling), C. Attard (athletics), M. Bezzina (judo), J. Camilleri (judo), A. Galea (swimming), J. Grech (table tennis), J. Grima (basketball), M. Scerri (swimming), D. Spiteri (triathlon), C. Walsh (athletics), F. Xuereb (athletics).
Official of the Year: T. Camilleri (snooker), T. Chircop (athletics), A. Debono (horse racing), M. Micallef (volleyball), K. Micallef Stafrace (sports medicine), Dr J. Mifsud (football), B. Vassallo (basketball).
Team of the Year: 4x100m men (athletics), 4x100m women (athletics), Women's U-18 basketball team, cricket national team, football national team, Elusive crew (sailing), judo national team, Chaudron Team (Powerboats), women's rugby national team, snooker masters team, shooting junior team, women's squash national team.
John Debattista U-17 Award: B. Borg (sailing), Darren Borg (bodybuilding), Diane Borg (athletics), S. Borg (sailing), A. Cassar Torregiani (athletics), E. Fleri Soler (sailing), D. Mangion (swimming), C. Sultana (squash), F. Xuereb (athletics), M. Xuereb (athletics).