The Maltese Olympic Academy, part of the Maltese Olympic Committee, in partnership with its associated Federations and Associations, alongside The Centre of Physical Education & Sport within the Ministry for Education, Sport, Youth, Research (MEYR), has enhanced its commitment to the ‘School Olympics Malta’ initiative.
This initiative invites middle and secondary school students to engage in intra-school competitions, tournaments, and festivals.
These events proved highly successful, spurred by the national enthusiasm that followed Malta’s historic achievement of topping the medal standings for the first time at the Games of the Small States of Europe, held and organized in Malta in 2023.
There has been increased anticipation from students who relish the opportunity to engage in their favourite disciplines at school level.
The choice of age group was selected since between the ages of 11 and 13, students often encounter a significant juncture in their athletic journey, where they must make decisions about their sports involvement. This period may involve contemplating whether to continue with their current sport, switch to a different one, or venture into entirely new disciplines.
The School Olympics Malta Project has emerged as a crucial guiding force during this pivotal phase, as it encourages exploration in the realm of sports.
This year, the programme has been expanded to include Netball, a highly popular game enjoyed by both girls and boys. Additionally, the Malta Squash Association has conducted engaging introductory sessions for middle school students, which have been met with enthusiasm and enjoyment.
The program encompasses various disciplines such as Football, Volleyball, Basketball, Netball, Table-Tennis, Chess, Cross-Country, and Squash. In the forthcoming months, additional events are in the pipeline, with Athletics – Track & Field Meet, Sailing, and Water polo being integrated into the programme.
To enhance the appeal and excitement of the event, final competitions for all team-based games will be held during the months of April and May 2024.
