Between the 18th and 24th of next June, Malta will again be the center of another world championship when our country will host for the first time the World Aquatics Men’s U16 Water Polo Championships. This was confirmed during a ceremony held earlier today, in Doha, Qatar, during which the draws for this championship were also drawn. This edition will take place in a new format and in it will participate more teams than the previous editions, 32 countries, with 19 teams from Europe, 3 from Africa, 3 from Asia, 2 from Oceania and 5 from the American Continent.
The ceremony was opened by the President of World Aquatics Husain Al-Musallam and by the Minister for Education, Sport, Youth, Research and Innovation Clifton Grima.
Minister Clifton Grima said, “As a country we should be proud that in a few months time, Malta will once again host another prestigious championship and therefore next June we will not only welcome among us sportsmen from 32 countries, but we will host the biggest aquatic event ever held in Malta. This is a legacy of the investment that our country has made both in the facilities and in the athletes themselves as well as the result of several international competitions that our country has successfully hosted including the Special Olympics, UEFA events as well as the World Games Small Countries that in addition to success on an organizational level we also had unprecedented sporting successes.”
“This is a historic moment for the Maltese sports scene through which we are continuing to raise the profile of our country and we are also showing the confidence that Malta enjoys to organize and host competitions of this level”, repeated Minister Grima .
He also mentioned that this will be a large-scale event because together with the water polo teams, delegations, coaches, technical assistants and their families will come to Malta. “Thus once again sport will contribute to sports tourism as well as to the economy of our country,” concluded Minister Grima.
Before the draws were drawn, the President of the Malta Aquatic Sports Association (ASA), Karl Izzo, spoke about the importance of this championship. He said that this competition not only shows the global prominence of the sport but also has a special importance for Malta.
“This championship will highlight Malta’s role as a country that hosts high-level competitions while strengthening international friendships. The ASA has a central role in the organization and promotion of this prestigious event, which for our country will be a unique experience that combines the rich cultural background of the island with the excitement of an international competition”, said the President of the ASA.
In Qatar, Minister Clifton Grima and ASA President Karl Izzo had meetings both with the President of World Aquatics Husain Al-Musallam, the President of European Aquatics Antonio Silva, and with the 1st Vice President of -European Aquatics Josip Varvodic, during which they discussed the World Aquatics Men’s U16 Water Polo Championships, the Final 4 Champions League that will take place in our country, the possibility of more collaboration when it comes to aquatic sports championships and the good relations that exist between World Aquatics, European Aquatics and the ASA.
Photos (MEYR)
