Davide Cachia has taken over at the helm of the Malta Triathlon Federation (MTF). He was elected as the new federation president following an Extraordinary General Meeting held earlier this month.

A successful entrepreneur working in the tourism industry, Cachia is also triathlete who has years of local and international competitive experience across all distances,  from Sprint to Ironman.

Cachia takes on the federation’s top spot after two challenging years that changed how sports was managed, perceived, and practiced mainly due to the implemented COVID-19 measures that saw the annual calendar of events drastically reduced.

Nevertheless, he still believes that there is a lot of untapped potential and the federation will be working closely with the rest of the seven affiliated clubs to work on a holistic development plan which aims to cater for the different segments that make up the sport.

“I believe sport to be a great outlet for people and that the clubs will continue to perpetuate the ideals of friendly sporting clubs – group of people of all ages who want to have fun, socialise and grow together as a team/club whilst enjoying the sport of triathlon,” Cachia said.

“The Malta Triathlon Federation would like to make a number of positive changes in the coming months,” he added, noting that the MTF is run entirely through volunteer support.

The federation, continued Cachia, is still committed to its vision of ensuring that all the various elements that make up the local triathlon community are giving the attention they deserve. This will span across the elite segment, youth athletes, and the rest of the dedicated athletes who never fail to be at the starting line of local races.

As the international triathlon circuit starts to open up, the federation hopes that local triathletes will once again be representing Malta and delivering the kind of results Maltese representatives have produced in the past.

Cachia emphasised that international participation is key for Maltese athletes to improve on their performances.

Academies are the future of the sport and Cachia pledged the federation’s support towards the consolidation of youth development programmes by providing as much support as is possible to create a long-term plan for the sport.

The Games of the Small States of Europe (GSSE), which will be held in Malta in June 2023, has officially been launched following an announcement by Minister for Education and Sport Clifton Grima.

The event marks the third time Malta will host the event, since the Games’ inception in 1985.

At the time, the games were formed for countries with populations of fewer than one million people, and feature the same events seen in the Olympics.

In a promo video launched by the Ministry, athletes were appealed to fight for the top spot, as the occasion draws ever closer.

“Now, more than before is our time to dream big, aim high and fight hard. Now is the time to show the world what the smallest of the European Countries can do.”

“Sports makes us a nation. Sports unites us as one populace. Sports drive us forwards.”

SportMalta received €5 million in funds in an attempt to create the best environment for athletes to thrive, as they prepare to fight for gold.

“The government is proud to be giving full support to this sector, especially to these games,” said Minister Grima. “We have invested both in sports infrastructure, which we are raising to an international level, but for the first time, we have also invested in human resources.”

Since the first GSSEs, Maltese athletes have won 331 medals. In the two editions which happened in Malta, athletes won 32 medals in 1993, and 44 medals in 2003.

The Regatta is a Traditional Rowing Event that has been held in Malta since the middle ages. The first professional Rowing Challenge started in 1955.

The traditional Regatta races are national events held twice yearly, that on the 31st of March on Freedom Day to commemorate the withdrawal of the British troops and the Royal Navy from Malta in 1979, and 8th September known as Victory Day. The latter has several roots as it marks the end of the Great Siege of Malta in 1565 and the end of French occupation on Malta in 1800, as well as the armistice of the Fascist regime in Italy in 1943, which saw the close of the Italian bombardment of the Maltese Islands.

The programme offers four to five hours of spectacle, with the best crews forming part of the rowing teams from the cities bordering the Grand Harbour. Cospicua, Kalkara, Marsa, Marsamxett (Valletta), Senglea, Vittoriosa and also Birzebbuga, participate in 10 races under two different categories using typical traditional Maltese boats like the ‘frejgatini’, ‘kajjikki’ and ‘dghajjes tal-pass and tal-midalji’. These boats were traditionally normal working watercraft which plied the local harbour.
Over the years these boats have evolved into racing craft with certain modifications. These are also examined and weighed before the start of and end of the races. The first three placings in each race are awarded a number of points and at the end of the Regatta, the club with the highest number of points, in the respective categories, is presented with the Aggregrate Shield.

In the past small flags in different colours were tied to the forestems of racing boats for purposes of recognition. The colours were allotted by the Collector of Customs. Colours have changed considerably over the years. Today the clubs can be recognised by their traditional colours which include Birzebbuga (Red-White-Blue), Cospicua (Light Blue), Kalkara (Green), Marsa (Red-Blue), Marsamxett (Valletta) (Yellow), Senglea (Red-Yellow), and Vittoriosa (Red).

The 1,040 metre race course is set up in the Valletta Grand Harbour where the magnificent Fort St Angelo provides an imposing backdrop to the sleek and colourful Maltese boats. A good crowd of spectators and supporters converge along the waterfront and the surrounding bastions to watch the races, which is sure to be a colourful and spectacular event worth watching. The races can be viewed from the water edge of the three cities (Birgu, Cospicua, and Senglea) or Valletta.