Opposition whip calls for velodrome in Malta

Opposition whip David Agius has proposed the construction of a velodrome in Malta, for the sake of local cyclists.

Speaking in Parliament during a Budget debate on the education ministry – under which the parliamentary secretariat for sport falls – Agius also called for a “national debate on the establishment of a world-class shooting range”.

“Malta boosts some world-class Olympic shooters such as William Chetcuti, but we haven’t yet held a proper debate on where a world-class shooting range can be constructed,” he said.

Similarly, he called for the identification of land for rugby pitches, and suggested an analysis on the possibility of constructing a closed indoor 50 metre pool.

He hailed a Budgetary VAT tax reduction on gym membership, fitness centres and football nurseries from 18% to 7%, but said that it should be extended to include membership in other sport nurseries.

He reiterated his call on the government to step in to ensure that Malta’s waterpolo team receives full-time training ahead of their historic participation in the European Finals in Serbia – by setting up a temporary fund to pay the players’ current employers while they are training for the games.

Moreover, he said that PBS should purchase the rights to broadcast the Belgrade games, and that the government should ensure special arrangements for Maltese people to fly to Serbia to support the team.