The dilemma about the direction that sports policy for this country should take is not a recent one but has been a longstanding issue. What should the state do? Promote the “popular” participation in sports by all citizens with a programme that does not aim to create champions in different fields, but to encourage sports activities among the “masses” and so boost public health approaches? Or concentrate on support to individuals and organizations that compete in international sporting events?

It’s hardly easy to arrive at a decision, given such a choice. One option offers the prospect of an improvement in the physical health of the people, which certainly would have many positive outcomes. The other approach would serve to encourage a sense of national pride, if and when sports individuals or groups from Malta achieve satisfactory results internationally.

Up to now, the dilemma has persisted because one could argue that all governments have opted to pursue both approaches with inadequate budgets.   

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RUSSIA IN THE UKRAINE

At the moment one is writing this, it is difficult to understand the news items that have been doing the rounds, claiming that “agreement” has been reached on a substantial proportion of matters that would bring an end to military activity in the war being waged by Russia against the Ukraine. Indeed, the figure of almost 90 per cent was mentioned as an indicator of how many of the pending issues have been resolved.

However if one understood correctly, this referred to discussions between the Ukraine and the US President, with the European powers looking on from behind the corner and Russia waiting to learn what was being proposed. Actually, what was agreed would still need to be discussed with the Russians. Despite the substantial human losses that the latter have experienced, they appear to be on top, militarily, and consider they have every incentive to insist that they get all that they have been fighting for. Even more so since the Russians know that the US is no longer backing the Ukraine “one hundred per cent”.

It seems that while the US and the Europeans ignored all Russian concerns at the very beginning of the crisis, Russia is now playing back the same game. 

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THE ENVIRONMENT IN POLITICS

On the basis of declarations made by the highest authorities of the government and the Opposition, one gets the impression that finally the safeguarding of the natural and historical heritage of the island has become the top priority of the political parties. Analyses of published opinion poll findings show that in one way or another, environmental problems have become/are vital concerns for citizens, even leading some to switch their electoral preferences.

Yet from all this, it is still too early to conclude that disquiet about the environment could really result in some decisive change to the political profile of the country. Firstly because in reality, up to now environmental considerations have never had an impact on the fianl vote of the population. And secondly because when confronted with environmental issues, despite the rhetoric we hear, the two parties seem to be pulling at the same rope –  which is perhaps the most important factor in the equation.