Prime Minister Robert Abela inaugurated a new football stadium at the Mediterranean College of Sport. During his visit to the college in Birkirkara, the Prime Minister had the opportunity to visit students in secondary school classrooms and scientific laboratories related to the sports sector. He also had the opportunity to speak to workers in different departments ranging from coaches to professionals.
Dr Abela explained how Vassallo Group implemented a total investment of €15 million to set up this sports college, thus creating around 7,000 square metres of spaces targeted for sports. 2,000 square metres of spaces were also renovated, including a swimming pool, football pitches, a gymnastics gym and a sports performance centre. This college opened on 30 September and today has 95 students. While providing secondary and sixth form education aimed at student-athletes, the same college provides training in football, water polo, swimming, athletics and other sports disciplines. The aim is for training in tennis and artistic gymnastics to begin next year.
In the coming years the college is expected to welcome around 400 student athletes. Currently around 70 people work within this college. The college management has also announced that it has plans to open a primary school from the next scholastic year and thus increase its educational training.
At the ceremony where a new football stadium was inaugurated, named after Fr Hilary Tagliaferro after the great contribution he made to Maltese football, especially among young people, Prime Minister Robert Abela said, “As a Government we are grateful and happy to see such an investment, an investment in the educational and sports sector, which looks at education holistically.” He added, “As a Government we will continue to invest in sports infrastructure and in many other sporting aspects but we certainly enjoy seeing the private sector complement this. We must continue to send the message that sport should be an integral part of the way we live,” concluded the Prime Minister as he also thanked Vassallo Group for the recognition they gave to Fr Hilary Tagliaferro as he described him as an icon of Maltese sport.
Photo: OPM-DOI
