Marsa Sports Village Project Launched

The Marsa Sports Village Project was officially launched by the Hon. Clyde Puli, Parliamentary Secretary for Youth and Sport. The Sports Village was designed and planned using a holistic approach, in order to provide state-of-the-art sports facilities to thousands of Maltese families, youths and sports enthusiasts.

It has been estimated that around 44 sports entities and over 10,000 people will benefit from the new sports facilities which will be available at the Marsa Sports Village. Parliamentary Secretary Puli stated that the project reflects the continuing progress being made in the Government's strategy aimed at developing the sports sector in Malta through a modern infrastructure and financial sustainability, which also has the positive effect of improving local sports on all levels.

The Sports Village will be built on around 812,000 square metres of government-owned land in Marsa. The investor, who will be chosen following a public call for tenders, will be expected to handle all necessary financial investments related to the completion of the project, and will also be responsible for the maintenance and running of the facilities.

Financial sustainability in sports 

The Marsa Sports Village will be contributing to the financial sustainability of sports through a joint investment involving the private sector. This will ensure that the whole area earmarked for development is used to its full commercial potential. The Project will also boost the local sports tourism sector and increase financial revenue, while creating further employment opportunities. Government will be spending less on administration and maintenance operations, but will continuously improve existing local sports facilities in order to increase revenue from sports tourism. 

The sports community will be able to benefit from international level facilities and from a centralised and professional administrative system, without having to bear the financial burdens brought about by such requirements.

The plans for the Sports Village therefore include accommodation facilities, horse stables and other commercial facilities.

Sports tourism

Parliamentary Secretary Puli announced that around 41,000 bed nights were generated through the Parliamentary Secretariat’s scheme aimed at supporting sports organisations advocating Malta’s participation in sports competitions, training programmes and sports seminars. This is double the number of bed nights generated by sports tourism in 2009, and is estimated to have injected €2.4 million into the Maltese economy.

The Marsa Sports Village will allow the sports tourism sector to keep growing substantially, since it will be offering more and improved sports facilities for a number of different sports disciplines which until now were not attracting sports tourists to Malta.

Sports development

Parliamentary Secretary Puli added that “We can guarantee that the sports facilities we will be offering will not be used for commercial interests, and that they will first and foremost be available for use by Maltese sports associations and athletes.” In fact, the time allocated for use by local sports clubs has been set by the sports associations themselves.

As part of the development of the Marsa Sports Village, Government will require the developer to provide open spaces for physical exercise and recreational purposes. These will feature a walking, jogging and cycling track, which the public can use for free.

The creation of a new sports and tourism destination

The expression of interest will bind the investors to complete all the sports facilities at the Marsa Sports Village within two years from the date of issue of the development permits. The project is set to be completed within 4 years after the development permits are issued.

The holistic approach being adopted for the design and planning of the village will serve to merge together a large parcel of land which until now was divided into several disjointed plots which were being used inefficiently.

The Marsa Sports Village will be housing facilities for several different outdoor sports disciplines, and will be offering more and better facilities, among which an equestrian centre, rugby pitches and a golf academy, which, when merged with the existing golf course, will achieve the status of an international level golf course.

Hon. Puli expressed his satisfaction at the fact that the Marsa Sports Village will be providing Malta with yet another sports and tourism destination from which thousands of Maltese families, youths and sports enthusiasts are expected to benefit.