The Minister for Gozo Clint Camilleri officially presented the contingent that will be representing the island of Gozo at the Island Games that will be held this year in Guernsey between the 8th and 14th of July.
Team Gozo is made up of 40 Gozo athletes who will be competing in the Islands Games in the following disciplines: athletics, cycling, shooting, swimming, table tennis, triathlon and football. “This is a historic moment in the sports field in Gozo because this is the first time that Gozitan athletes will be able to represent our island in international games and do honor to them and to Gozo,” said Minister Camilleri.
He stated that the preparations for Gozo to join the International Island Games Association (IIGA) have been ongoing and recalled how during the visit that the members of the IIAG executive made to Gozo, they praised the commitment, the determination and the Government’s vision for the sports sector on the island of Gozdzia to be boosted forward and this with capital projects and direct fiscal incentives. He went on to say that this Government believes in athletes and is committed to continue giving its support to the sports field.
It was last year that Gozo was accepted to formally join IIGA, after the Ministry for Gozo, in April 2022, had submitted an application to become a member of this association. The application had been accepted by a unanimous vote during the Annual General Meeting of the same association held in Guernsey, in the same place where this year the NatWest International Island Games will be organized. Minister Clint Camilleri ended by thanking everyone who worked and gave their part so that Gozo could be part of these games while wishing the athletes every success.
The International Island Games were organized for the first time in 1985. The members in this association are 24 islands from around the world and the games are organized every two years.
Photos: MGOZ
