Minister Byron Camilleri invites athletes to live the values of Karate and sport
Malta is hosting the 2026 Small Countries Karate Championships of Europe, which are bringing together athletes, coaches and officials from various European countries. These championships are taking place in an important year for Maltese karate, as this year marks the 40th anniversary of Malta’s first participation in the European Karate Championships.
Minister for Education and Sport Byron Camilleri officially opened the championships during a ceremony attended by athletes, representatives of the participating countries and sports officials. The ceremony included a parade of athletes with their national flags, as well as a performance by SportMalta gymnasts as part of the ‘Let’s Move Malta’ initiative.
“Forty years ago, Malta participated for the first time in the European Karate Championships with a team of only three athletes. Today, four decades later, we have the opportunity to welcome athletes from small European states to our country for these championships. Behind us are years of work by generations of athletes, coaches, officials and volunteers who have contributed to the continued growth of this sport in Malta. These championships are an important opportunity for Maltese athletes to compete at an international level, gain experience and continue to develop their skills. At the same time, we want events like these to continue to encourage more children and young people to take up the sport, because karate not only teaches how to compete, but also discipline, respect, perseverance and self-confidence,” said Minister Camilleri.
The Minister stressed that the importance of these championships goes beyond sporting results and medals. For Maltese athletes, this is an opportunity to compete with athletes from other countries, while children and young people who practice karate can see firsthand what it takes to compete at an international level. He invited these athletes to not only practice sport and karate but to live the values of sport.
The organisation of these championships is also an occasion to commemorate the journey of karate in Malta. In 1986, a national team made up of three athletes represented our country at the European Championships held in Madrid. Since then, Maltese karate has continued to grow and today the Malta Karate Federation has nine affiliated clubs.
Kenneth Abela, President of the Malta Karate Federation, said, “It is a great honour for the Malta Karate Federation to host these Small States of Europe Championships. This is not just a sporting event, but an opportunity to bring together athletes from different countries, share our experiences and continue to develop karate in Malta. For our athletes, coaches and volunteers, this is an experience that will leave a legacy for the future. We also wish that all our guests enjoy both the competition and Maltese hospitality.”
The President of the Small States Karate Federation of Europe (SSEKF), Katherine Broder, said , “We are very happy and proud to be back in Malta after ten years for these championships. The Federation was founded 12 years ago and Malta has been a member of it since the very beginning. Over the years, together we have built a platform that has given opportunities to our athletes to compete, develop and strengthen the bonds between them as part of the karate family. It is a great pleasure for us to be back in Malta and we thank the Malta Karate Federation for its hospitality. We hope to have the opportunity to come to Malta again in the near future.”
Beyond the competition, the organisation of these championships is providing an opportunity for Maltese coaches, officials and volunteers to gain experience in organising international sporting events. This experience can help the Malta Karate Federation continue to strengthen its work and create more opportunities for the development of this sport in Malta.
The championships are also serving to strengthen sporting relations between the participating countries. Despite their small size, these countries share the same ambition of giving their athletes opportunities to compete, develop and represent their country at an international level.
Minister Camilleri thanked the Malta Karate Federation for its work in organising these championships, as well as SportMalta, the Maltese Olympic Committee, VisitMalta and all the partners who contributed to making this event possible in our country.
He congratulated all the athletes for their participation and encouraged them to compete with determination, courage and respect for each other, while continuing to embrace the sporting values that unite the international karate community.
Photos: MES
