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Team Malta’s commitments started off with the symbolic welcome ceremony where the Mayor of the Athletes’ Village Alessia Maurelli welcomed the contingent and presented Chef de Mission Charlene Attard with a token before proceeding to have the Maltese flag raised with the Maltese anthem signifying that Team Malta had arrived in the village.
During the 20th edition of these Games, the Maltese Olympic Committee will be fielding 35 athletes across 14 disciplines including Athletics, Badminton, Cycling, Gymnastics, Karate, Raffa, Rowing, Sailing, Shooting, Taekwondo, Tennis, Triathlon, Weightlifting and Wrestling.
Leading the delegation into the opening ceremony this evening at the Iacovone stadium will be flag bearers André Cassar (Skeet Shooting) and Francesca Clark (Badminton).
A PROUD HISTORY AT THE MEDITERRANEAN GAMES
Malta’s story at the Mediterranean Games stretches back to the very first edition, held in Alexandria, Egypt in 1951, when the island sent a contingent of just three athletes. Seventy-five years on, that number has grown into one of the most ambitious teams Malta has ever fielded — and over the decades in between, Maltese athletes have claimed nine medals at these Games: one gold, four silver, and four bronze across seven different editions.
TEAM MALTA
Team Malta was selected in close consultation with the respective national federations, with minimum qualifying standards developed to ensure each athlete named in the squad is in the form required to compete at the highest level of Mediterranean sport.
Athletics: Claire Azzopardi, Dillon Cassar, Matthew Galea Soler, Jared Micallef, Luke Micallef Perconte, Graham Pellegrini, Jeremy Zammit
Artistic Gymnastics: Philippa Busuttil Badminton: Sam Cassar, Francesca Clark, Martina Clark
Cycling: Aidan Buttigieg, Bernard Galea, Andrea Mifsud
Karate: Thyis Antonelli
Raffa: Stefan Farrugia
Rowing: Mark Schembri
Sailing: Mia Busuttil, Matthew Flores, Katrina Micallef, Benjamin Vassallo
Shooting: Eleanor Bezzina, André Cassar, Gianluca Chetcuti, William Chetcuti, Liam Sciberras
Taekwondo: Alycia Cassar
Tennis: Alex Degabriele, Liam Delicata, Elaine Genovese
Triathlon: Kai Azzopardi, Danica Bonello Spiteri, Ryan Muscat
Weightlifting: Tenishia Thornton
Wrestling: Nico Zarb
“The Mediterranean Games have long served as one of the most important multi-sport stages for Malta’s athletes, offering the opportunity to compete against elite regional opposition in a Games setting. The Taranto edition, bringing together nations from across the Mediterranean, represents both a celebration of shared sporting culture and a genuine competitive arena. We are sure of the commitment and pride that Team Malta will be showing in Taranto,” remarked Julian Pace Bonello, President, Maltese Olympic Committee.
Team Malta opens its campaign on Saturday 22 August with Sam Cassar and Francesca Clark stepping onto court for the Badminton Mixed Doubles qualifying rounds in Francavilla Fontana.
In Montemesola, Stefan Farrugia gets his Raffa singles qualifying campaign under way, while cyclists Aidan Buttigieg and Andrea Mifsud take on the Individual Time Trial on the Taranto city circuit.
On the shooting range in Torricella, André Cassar and Liam Sciberras begin their Skeet qualification, with 75 targets across the day.
