Athletics Team Malta kicked off their campaign at the European Athletics Team Championships in Maribor, Slovenia, with a strong showing, ending Day One in fifth position in the 15-nation Division Three competition.

Despite the absence of several key athletes, the Maltese contingent demonstrated remarkable resilience and depth, with standout performances across both track and field events particularly from a number of promising young talents.

Rachela Pace was among the day’s top performers, claiming maximum points for Malta with a superb victory in the long jump, leaping to an impressive 6.39m.

Middle-distance runner Gina McNamara continued her fine form, securing first place in the 800m with a time of 2:10.05, while Matthew Galea Soler impressed in the 400m, clocking 46.90s to take second place.

All three athletes are set to compete again today, aiming to add further points to Malta’s tally.

The women’s relay team also put in a commendable effort, securing third place with a solid time of 46.99s.

With 184 points accumulated, Malta sits in fifth place matching their result from two years ago in Poland. Iceland and Luxembourg currently lead the standings, with Moldova close behind in third on 197 points.

The championships conclude today, with Team Malta looking to capitalise on their strong start and climb further up the leaderboard.

The Maltese team in the European Athletics Team Championship is supported by SportMalta.

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Gozo Regional Council successfully held its annual Plenary Meeting on Saturday, 21st June, at the Grand Hotel in Għajnsielem. The half-day event, running from 8:30am to 1:00pm, brought together mayors, local councillors, executive secretaries, regional officials, and key stakeholders to discuss pressing regional matters and foster collaborative efforts for Gozo’s future.

In his opening address, Dr Samuel Azzopardi, President of the Region, stated, “The Regional Plenary is an annual opportunity for dialogue and reflection on the role the Gozo Region plays within local governance and in shaping Gozitan identity. It serves as a vital platform for generating ideas and strengthening the region’s contribution to society.”

Ms Rita Mifsud Attard, Executive Secretary of the Gozo Regional Council, provided a strategic overview of the Council’s current initiatives and priorities. Her address underscored themes of innovation, sustainability, and inter-regional collaboration, setting a focused and aspirational tone for the proceedings.

Each of the six regional managers delivered presentations on their respective areas of responsibility, including environment, EU funding, culture, IT, project management, waste management, and administration. Key highlights included the Region of Gozo cultural events and the Gozo Region App Services (GRAS), both reinforcing the Council’s commitment to modernisation and improved quality of life for local communities.

A dedicated session led by Mr Pierre Louis Attard, Manager of the Gozo Action Group Foundation (GAGF), focused on four new measures being launched under the LEADER programme. Mr Attard encouraged local councils to actively seek funding through these measures, particularly in anticipation of Gozo’s designation as the European Region of Gastronomy 2026.