Sports budget ‘drastically cut’ – Robert Cutajar

The budget allocation for sports has been drastically cut, according to Nationalist MP Robert Cutajar, the Opposition's spokesman for youth and sports.

According to Cutajar, parliamentary secretary for sports Stefan Buontempo was not even present during a meeting with Finance Minister Edward Scicluna discussing the financial allocation for sports.

Referring to "government's interference" with the Malta Sports Council, Cutajar asked why there had been two resignations in a space of a few months by those who occupied the role of chairman. Turning to Luciano Busuttill's appointment as KMS chairman, Cutajar said this was a measure "to appease the backbenchers who did not form part of the Cabinet".

Cutajar also questioned why Labour MP Chris Agius, despite having been appointed to chair the Sports Reform Commission, the government was still not making good use of Agius's experience, who in the past had worked well in conjunction with the previous administration.

According to a parliamentary question, the reform commission and the KMS have not met over the past eight months.

He lambasted the decision to increase the funds allocated for the sports magazine by €25,000, insisting the magazine was now full of photos of the parliamentary secretary.

Cutajar said the government would have made better use of these funds if it were to invest them in open air gyms or in initatives to encourage the use of bicycles.

On the tax cuts for footballers, Cutajar argued that if government thought this would address corruption in football, "then it has understood nothing".

On his part, Labour MP - and KMS chairman - Luciano Busuttil spoke about the shortcomings the Malta Sports Council was facing, especially with regard to the Tal-Qroqq Sports Complex.

He said that, when it came to the national pool, substantial investment was required.

"Changing rooms, which even lack windows, need to be upgraded. New benches and a better shower system are required and the flooring must be changed to non-slip," he said.

Busuttil added that the pools were still being heated with a diesel boiler which has not been changed for 25 years. Even a new electricity system was required, he said.

The old heating system meant that KMS was spending €500,000 a year to heat the pools.

On the Marsa Sports Village, Busuttil said the project had been abandoned by the previous administration despite  having indulged in a marketing campaign.