Prime Minister Robert Abela, in the presence of the Minister for Education, Sport, Youth, Research and Innovation Clifton Grima, inaugurated the new offices of the Malta Authority for Integrity in Sport (AiMS) in Santa Venera.
Accompanied by Chief Executive Officer Kevin Azzopardi and the Authority’s Chairman, Judge emeritus Antonio Mizzi, Prime Minister Abela and Minister Grima toured the offices and modern facilities, which cover an area of 800 square metres.
The Authority’s new facilities are now more accessible to the public who require any of the services it offers, government said. At the same time, these offices are also being used by Doping Control Officers, as well as by Educational Officers who provide their services to the Authority on a part-time basis.
Prime Minister Robert Abela noted that since the establishment of AiMS in 2021, the Authority has been fully contributing to the development and strengthening of Maltese sport. Abela reiterated that the Government’s vision, through the law that established AiMS, is delivering the desired results. He pointed out that several European countries, as well as others from different continents, are looking at the Maltese model in order to move towards establishing a similar authority that incorporates not only anti-doping, but also the three other pillars of integrity: good governance, the fight against manipulation of sports activities, and the educational sector.
To date, around 70 sports associations and federations have successfully registered with AiMS after undergoing administrative scrutiny. The process has now also begun for all sports clubs in Malta and Gozo to be registered, government said.
Prime Minister Robert Abela expressed his gratitude to the Chairman, the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, and all employees within the Authority, wishing them every success in their work so that the country continues to have a sports sector that makes the Maltese and Gozitan people proud not only locally but also internationally.
Minister Clifton Grima emphasized that the inauguration of these new offices is another important step towards to continue strengthening good governance, transparency, and credibility in the Maltese sports sector. “As a Government, we believe that sport should be built on strong values of justice, discipline, and integrity, and therefore we will continue to invest in structures and institutions that uphold these principles. AiMS is carrying out crucial work to further promote high standards in our sport, both locally and internationally,” Minister Grima concluded.