Sport Malta Brings People Of All Ages Together For European Week Of Sport

The Kirkop Sports Complex hosted a national event for European Week of Sport 2026, bringing together children, young people, adults and older people for an evening dedicated to sport, physical activity and community participation.

Organised by SportMalta, the event allowed members of the public to experience a wide range of sporting disciplines, including athletics, basketball, frame football, gymnastics, golf, bocce, softball, badminton, tennis, pickleball, kickboxing, handball, water polo, judo, karate, taekwondo and line dancing.

The programme continued during the #BeActive Night, with activities including weightlifting, abseiling, rowing, rugby, skateboarding, table tennis and Hyrox. Presentations were also held for students who participated in the Let's Move Malta summer programme.

Minister for Education and Sport Byron Camilleri, who attended the event, said the participation of people of different ages reflected the message behind European Week of Sport, encouraging everyone to find their own way to stay active.

Camilleri said sport plays an important role beyond competition, creating opportunities for community building, friendship and social interaction. He added that physical activity is also an investment in health and quality of life, and that more opportunities should continue to be created for people of all ages and abilities.

Among the participants was Kate Prasel Caruana, who returned to practise judo with friends. She said the event provided an opportunity to enjoy the sport again while encouraging more children to try different disciplines.

The event also highlighted the role of sport among older generations. Dance instructor John Spiteri said initiatives by SportMalta provide people over the age of 60 with opportunities to remain active while socialising through activities such as line dancing, ballroom dancing and sequence dancing.

Hyrox also attracted strong participation after its format was adapted to half the usual distance. The competition included categories for children aged seven to 15 and participants aged 16 and over, with more than 70 adults and 60 children taking part.

This year's European Week of Sport campaign carries the theme #BeActive Your Way, promoting the idea that there is no single approach to staying active. The campaign encourages people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities to include physical activity in their daily lives.

European Week of Sport is taking place between 23 and 30 September. Since its launch in 2015, it has reached more than 118 million participants through over 433,000 activities across 42 countries. In Malta, local councils and sports organisations are also participating, while swimmer Sasha Gatt and judoka Katryna Esposito are serving as ambassadors for the 2026 edition.

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