SportMalta Awards - Għażliet Sportivi Nazzjonali.
The SportMalta Awards are organised by the Malta Sports Council (KMS) and the Sportswriters Association (GhKS) previously known as the ‘Ghazliet Sportivi Nazzjonali’; these awards are the main national sport event of the year where athletes, officials and administrators who distinguish themselves, will be rewarded during a ceremony befitting sport in Malta as a whole.
These awards are about celebrating the universal power of sport to bring people together as a force for good, passionately embodying the very spirit of sport such as the pursuit of excellence, overcoming challenges, celebrating achievement and sporting excellence and winning against the odds. These awards recognize the achievements of today’s local sports heroes and bring sportspeople together, united in achievement and through the universal language of sport which unites and inspires people.
Accordingly, the Sport Malta Awards will showcase sport in Malta and contribute to raising awareness of the value of sport to individuals and communities and also to highlight the contribution of those who deliver sport at local level, including schools and clubs, volunteers, coaches and administration officers. The event is intended to reward individuals, clubs, volunteers and sport administrators for excellence in sport, demonstrating their commitment to good practice in sport, integrity, exemplary sportsmanship, innovative and inclusive programmes and greater grass roots participation. Another objective for establishing these awards is to recognize those outstanding individuals and teams that can be held up as role models for sport through their sociability respect for others and support for the values of sport. As a result of these Awards, one can learn from the extraordinary efforts of many talented and enthusiastic Maltese sport persons. Their accomplishments will inspire others to follow in their footsteps and achieve their dreams.
The 10 finalists in the Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year categories of the Għażliet Sportivi Nazzjonali are in the running for the SportMalta Award. This will emerge from a voting process involving sports journalists, association delegates and the public.
Għażliet Sportivi Nazzjonali – Selection Process
A selection board announces 10 finalists from each category (sportsman, sportswoman, official, team, youth) in December. The same selection board then cuts this list to five finalists in each respective category (Sportsman of the Year, Sportswoman of the Year, Best U-17 Athlete, Team of the Year and Official of the Year) either at the end of December or early in January (this is usually announced at the pre-event activity held around two/three weeks before the final night). The finalists in the Sportsman and Sportsman of the Year categories are in contention for the KMS's SportMalta awards.
The journalists’ voting stage sets off at this stage and members of the Għaqda Kittieba Sports are sent a voting document (through post) and asked to vote. Sport editors carry more weight as their vote accounts to a higher percentage of the final vote (varying between 25-33%). The votes are then collected and counted by the Għaqda Kittieba Sports committee and the winners are subsequently announced on the final night where other prizes are given for the sportsman/woman with a disability, the Sport Activity of the Year and recognition to a veteran sport journalist.
Winners
The winners of the last 10 editions of the respective categories were:
2009
Official of the Year
Tonio Cini followed by Judo’s Envic Galea and snooker referee Terry Camilleri
Best Sportsman
William Chetcuti
U-17 Category
Clive Farrugia
Special Recognition
Michael Calleja and Alexia Wetz in Special Olympics
Best Event
Judo Kata World Championships
Special Momento
Simon Bonello
KMS SportMalta Award
Aaron Ciantar
Sportsman of the Year
William Chetcuti
Sportswoman of the Year
Rebecca Brincat Thorensen
Team of the Year
Women’s basketball
2008
U-17 Category
Ryan Bugeja - Shooting
Sportsman of the Year
William Chetcuti
Sportswoman of the Year
Sue Abela
2007
U-17 Category
Francesca Xuereb - Athlete
Sportsman of the Year
Michael Mifsud
Sportswoman of the Year
Francesca Xuereb
2006
U-17 Category
Matthew Asciak - Tennis
Sportsman of the Year
William Chetcuti
Sportswoman of the Year
Rebecca Madyson
2005
U-17 Category
Matthew Asciak - Tennis
Sportsman of the Year
William Chetcuti
Sportswoman of the Year
Angela Galea
2004
U-17 Category
Benji Borg
Sportsman of the Year
William Chetcuti
Sportswoman of the Year
Angela Galea
2003
U-17 Category
Benji Borg
Sportsman of the Year
William Chetcuti
Sportswoman of the Year
Tanya Blake
2002
U-17 Category
Matthew Fleri Soler
Sportsman of the Year
William Chetcuti
Sportswoman of the Year
Maria Mifsud Bonnici
2001
U-17 Category
Roberta Callus
Sportsman of the Year
Stefan Farrugia
Sportswoman of the Year
Carol Galea
2000
U-17 Category
Peter Valentino
Sportsman of the Year
Tony Cauchi
Sportswoman of the Year
Carol Galea
1999
U-17 Category
Steve Pace
Sportsman of the Year
Mario Bonello
Sportswoman of the Year
Sue Abela
1998
U-17 Category
Dermot Galea
Other Awards
From the edition of 2004, l-Ghaqda Kittieba Sports has started to award even the journalists that worked hard in sports journalism and also gave his contribution for sports in his career. The winner of the first edition was the photographer Charles Fava. In 2005 the winner was Lewis Portelli which was one of the members of GhKS while in 2006 the winner was Benny Pace, in 2007 the winner was Mario Meli and 2008 Henry Calleja.
The GhKS also awards that association in that particular year which had organised an activity on international level:
The winners are:
2008 : FIBA Conference organised by the Malta Basketball Association
2007 : MAAA European Calendar Conference
2006 : Triathlon International Championships
2005 : Rolex Middle Sea Race
2004 : FISEC Games
2003 : 10 Editions of the “Loghob tal-Pajjizi z-Zghar”
