10th Edition Of The Gozo Sports Awards Held At The New Sports And Aquatic Pavilion

The 10th edition of the Gozo Sports Awards was held at the new Gozo Sports and Aquatic Pavilion in Victoria, the largest sports investment ever made on the island.

During the ceremony, the Minister for Gozo and Planning, Clint Camilleri, highlighted that the new Pavilion offers top-quality facilities built to international standards. “If we want our Gozitan athletes to make a name for themselves when they compete, we must provide them with the best facilities,” he said.

Minister Camilleri added that this project marks a major step forward in Gozo’s sports infrastructure and reflects the government’s continued commitment to supporting local athletes.

Throughout 2024, the Ministry continued to assist athletes through several schemes. Through the iSports Scheme, 67 athletes received more than €13,500 to support their training in Malta, while by September a further 70 athletes were granted over €19,000 in direct assistance. In addition, 13 Gozitan sports clubs shared €60,000 to fund projects benefiting the local sporting community.

The Ministry also promoted sports tourism through successful initiatives such as the Summer Horse Racing Championship at Xħajma Track and the Malta Premier League Day in Gozo, both of which attracted great interest and participation.

Gozo’s international sporting presence continued to grow, with the island taking part for the second time in the International Island Games, held this year in Orkney, Scotland. Preparations have already begun for the next edition of the Games, which will take place in the Faroe Islands in 2027.

Minister Camilleri congratulated all the nominees and winners, and expressed his appreciation to everyone who contributes to the development of sport in Gozo. He reaffirmed that the Ministry will continue to support Gozitan athletes and invest in modern sports facilities.

This year’s event once again highlighted Gozo’s growing status as a hub of sporting talent, quality facilities and excellence.

The winners of the 2025 Gozo Sports Awards were as follows: Official of the Year was Anton Tabone of Victoria Hotspurs FC; Coach of the Year went to Shawn Pierre Bajada of Qala Saints FC; and Team of the Year was awarded to Shamrock Stars Sports Club in basketball. The Promising Young Female Athlete award went to Amy Attard of Athletix AC Gozo, while the Promising Young Male Athlete was Anthony Borg from Aquahub.

The Sportswoman of the Year title was awarded to Lara Calleja of the Gozo Clay Target Association, and Sportsman of the Year went to Charlton Debono of the Evolve Endurance Club. Chris Camilleri received recognition as an active athlete over the age of 45, while Joseph Grima was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award. A Special Recognition Award for the Special Olympics was presented to Giuseppina Galea.

#MaltaDaily