MAAA hosting European Championship Third League at Marsa this weekend

● Over 300 athletes and officials taking part

The Malta Amateur Athletic Association will be hosting the European Championship Third League at Marsa this weekend (Saturday and Sunday).

Addressing the press on the occasion of the launch of the event, MAAA president Edwin Attard said it is the second time that such a championship is being staged in Malta.

It is an event which sees the participation of more than 300 athletes and officials from 12 nations.

He went on to say that the first two among the 12 will be promoted to the second league next year. He added that Luxembourg and Bosnia were the favourites to top the list.

He said Malta will be fielding an athlete in each event which will help the locals to gain more points. Attard said he was hoping that Malta could also win some events.

He mentioned the good performances of some athletes at the recent San Marino Games for European Small Nations, particularly Charlotte Wingfield who won the 100 and 200 metres.

The MAAA chief said the competition will certainly be of a good level because of the participation of some top European athletes, among others, in the shot and hammer events.

He thanked the Parliamentary Secretary, Dr Clifton Grima, the Malta Olympic Committee, GO, General Soft Drinks Co Ltd and Middle Sea MAPFRE for their support towards the organisation of this huge event.

Dr Grima, only recently appointed PS responsible for Sport, said the organising committee deserved praise for taking charge of such a big event.

He said he was sure that the local athletes would be doing their best to get excellent results.

“It should be a great experience for everyone,” he said.

He also spoke about the new sports law which will see the associations and federations, not to mention the clubs, who have acquired land from the government, to be able to make part of it commercial so that they would generate the much needed funds to make their facilities sustainable. “I want to see these sports entities work harder, develop and expand to produce better athletes who get better results in future,” he said.

He said that Sport-Malta had already supported the MAAA to re-surface the warm-up area. He added: “Now we look forward to continue helping the association as they try to expand by developing the stadium area which is a major project.”

Roman Schwaiger, MAAA secretary general, said this would be a very important event for Maltese athletics.

“Such an event provides an opportunity for all of us – athletes, officials and administrators – to take part in a top competition. We hope that this will carry on for a number of years during which good progress should be registered.

“Another good thing is that thanks to this competition, the association will get subsidies and grants from Athletics Europe which will enable it to buy new equipment such as the photo finish and the starts.”