Olympic Sized Swimming Pool In Cottonera Sports Complex

Sep 6 2023

Prime Minister Robert Abela inaugurated the first Olympic-sized swimming pool in our country, at the Cottonera Sports Complex.

The swimming pool, constructed through a €14 million investment, is expected to continue playing a pivotal role in elevating the standards of sports in the country. Its location in the South of Malta underscores the government’s intention to ensure widespread benefits throughout the nation.

Abela highlighted that the investment was not limited to sports infrastructure but also encompassed substantial funding for athlete development, as was evident, the PM said, during the European Small Countries Games.

This investment is set to persist, with an allocation of €5 million from the Social Fund for National Development dedicated to athlete training and preparation.

Prime Minister Abela concluded by emphasizing the government’s steadfast commitment to supporting sports, aiming to provide equal opportunities for every boy and girl in Malta to dream and turn those dreams into reality.

The swimming pool boasts state-of-the-art technology and includes numerous amenities such as athlete and official dressing rooms, offices, control rooms, spectator stands, and sanitary facilities. The pool’s roof is purposefully designed to enhance aesthetics and is supported by beams spanning up to 44 meters.

Additionally, the facility includes a diving pool on each side measuring 44 square meters, meeting the International Swimming Federation’s requirements.

It is equipped with a water heating and air conditioning system. This Olympic-sized pool spans 5,000 square meters and features cutting-edge technology, including bulkheads to segment the pool for various uses.

Furthermore, the pool area can be adjusted in height to accommodate diving coaches giving lessons at different depths as needed.

Minister for Education, Sport, Youth, Research, and Innovation, Clifton Grima, expressed his satisfaction with the inclusion of this Olympic-sized pool project in the electoral manifesto. He highlighted it as an excellent opportunity for the aquatic sector in Malta to progress and achieve more success. He also stressed the importance of providing professional training facilities for children, enabling athletes to continue achieving international success.

One of the key pillars of the national sports strategy is sports facilities, and according to SportMalta’s Chief Executive Officer Mark Cutajar, this swimming pool ranks among the country’s top sports facilities.

SportMalta is committed to ensuring that athletes have access to facilities of the highest standards to help them reach their full potential and compete internationally. This commitment will continue to contribute to the growth of the sports sector in the country.

During the inauguration, young Jayden Cassar, a member of the national water polo team under sixteen, addressed the audience. He expressed the gratitude of Maltese athletes for having such a high-quality pool in the Mediterranean. He emphasized that this project will inspire and attract more children and young people to engage in water sports, providing an excellent opportunity for aquatic sports in Malta to continue progressing and achieving international success.

Jayden highlighted that local athletes will no longer face the disadvantage of having to train abroad due to the availability of an open swimming pool in Malta. He also envisioned the expansion of sports programs to enable athletes and school students in the surrounding areas to grow and develop.

Prime Minister Robert Abela was accompanied by his wife, Dr. Lydia Abela, who serves as the President of Special Olympics Malta.

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Armed Forces Of Malta Rescue Man Struggling In Water

Sep 5 2023

This morning, the Rescue Coordination Centre Malta received a call reporting a person in water, in the area of Tigne Sliema.

RCC Malta immediately directed Armed Forces of Malta assets to the location, and successfully rescued the person in the water.

The person was handed over to an awaiting medical team from Mater Dei.

‘RCC Malta wishes to remind the general public to keep safe distance from shorelines in view of adverse incoming weather.’

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18 Year Old Arrested In Connection To Drug Trafficking

Sep 5 2023

Investigations by the Malta Police Force in relation to information about drug trafficking led to the arrest of an 18 year old.

The police received information that in Marsa, in the area of Triq il-Ġerrejja, a young man was circling the area on a motorbike attempting to sell drugs.

After observing the suspect, the police approached him and, through a search, 74 sachets of suspected cocaine and 25 sachets of suspected heroin were found in the motorcycle.

The suspect was arrested, with an inquiry being opened and investigations ongoing.

The young man is expected to be taken to court today at around 1330hrs.

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Lottoland launches Win-Win Charity Scratchcard to support The Malta Community Chest Fund

Sep 5 2023

Leading lotto betting operator Lottoland, has announced the launch of its Win-Win Charity scratch card to help raise money for The Malta Community Chest Fund (MCCF), a local foundation committed to improving the lives of people in need.

Available online the new game costs €1 and offers the chance to win up to €50,000, with 20% of the proceeds going directly towards MCCF. The scratch cards are now available for sale via the Lottoland website, with each purchase helping to make a difference in the lives of people in need.

“We are thrilled to launch this new scratch card and partner with The Malta Community Chest Fund to support their important work in the community,” said Lottoland CEO Nigel Birrell. “We believe that it’s important for companies to give back, and this is just one of the many ways that Lottoland is committed to making a difference here in Malta.”

“We also know that many of our customers want to give back and do something positive and so having the opportunity to support such a noble and altruistic mission, as well as being in with a chance to win money is a huge bonus” added Birrell.

The Malta Community Chest Fund is probably the most well-known of all Maltese Charity organisations, not only because of its prestigious patronage by the Head of State, but also because its benevolence is extended to a wide spectrum of needs.

MCCF supports people from all walks of life and requests vary between the simplest things like basic food items to the most recent chemotherapy treatment on the market or the need to travel abroad for medical treatment to specialised hospitals.

“We are grateful for the support of Lottoland and the launch of this new product,” said MCCF Chairman John Huber. “Every purchase of a scratch card will help us continue our ongoing work in the community. The money raised by players of Lottoland will be immensely valuable, to assist us in our mission of being able to meet the needs of our patients.”

During the launch event, Lottoland’s ambassador for Malta, Ira Losco explained how The Malta Community Chest Fund has always been a charity close to her heart and that she has long been a supporter of the amazing work they do.

“We believe that by offering people who want to play a new alternative, that will not only bring joy to those who win prizes but also make a positive impact on our community, is a step in the right direction,” said Ira Losco.

“We encourage everyone to get involved and make a difference today. I hope Lottoland inspires more businesses to come up with creative ways to support good causes rather than just one-off donations, by also contributing their know-how, resources and time.”

Last October Lottoland was the biggest winner at the Malta Business Awards organised by the Malta Chamber of SMEs in partnership with Malta Enterprise, taking home a total of three trophies. These included first place in the Exceptional Wellbeing at the Workplace and Carbon Neutral Commitment categories, as well as runner up for Best CSR Initiative.

Lottoland, was also the first iGaming company to achieve a carbon neutral status. To date the leading online lotto operator has renatured 90km of riverbanks, planted over 2 million trees worldwide, including a thousand in Malta together with local NGO Saġġar and is the official partner of Nature Trust’s Wildlife Rescue Team.

Lottoland is operated by European Lotto and Betting Limited and is licensed by the Malta Gaming Authority, licence number MGA/B2C/609/2018. Gambling can be harmful if not controlled. Please play responsibly 18+. For help visit rgf.org.mt.

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