Malta Basketball Association

The Malta Basketball Association is to receive additional land adjacent to its existing pavilion at Ta’ Qali, following a Cabinet decision approved this week, paving the way for the development of new sporting facilities.

The transfer of the plot, situated beside the current basketball pavilion, will enable the association to expand its infrastructure and provide athletes with enhanced training and competition environments.

The decision comes as Maltese basketball enjoys a period of unprecedented success, with national teams across multiple age categories securing historic victories in their respective European Championships in recent weeks.

The need for additional space and modernised facilities stems from the pavilion’s remarkable transformation in recent years. The original structure was a Second World War aircraft hangar, built in 1942 to accommodate fighter planes for the defence of Malta. For five decades, Maltese basketball was played within its cold, humid confines, with conditions so poor that a FIBA director, upon visiting eight years ago, “couldn’t understand how basketball was played in the old pavilion”.

A two-phase refurbishment project, supported by SportMalta and completed in 2020, saw the venue transformed into a facility meeting international standards. The upgraded pavilion now boasts spectator stands, association offices, a cafeteria, and full accessibility for persons with disabilities. Capacity has increased to accommodate up to 1,200 spectators.

The refurbished facilities have already attracted interest from FIBA, basketball’s world governing body, which has expressed a desire to stage tournaments in Malta. The venue was also essential for Malta’s co-hosting of the 2023 Games of the Small States of Europe.

Association officials have previously emphasised that “adequate playing facilities are essential to maintain the growth of basketball in Malta”. The new land transfer represents the next phase in this ongoing expansion, providing the space needed for further development as the sport continues to flourish on the islands.