Sport will remain high on the Government’s agenda as part of its continued investment in improving the wellbeing of the Maltese and Gozitan people, Prime Minister Robert Abela said during a visit to the Cottonera Sports Complex, where he met coaches and administrators from swimming schools.

During the visit, the Prime Minister described the pilot project offering free swimming lessons for children aged three to five from Cottonera, as one of the measures to be introduced within the Government’s first 100 days of this legislature. The programme aims to give children the opportunity to develop confidence in the water from an early age while encouraging healthy lifestyles through sport. He said the decision to include the initiative among the Government’s early commitments was a conscious and carefully considered one, reflecting the importance of investing in children’s health and development.

Dr Abela highlighted the many benefits of swimming, explaining that free access to lessons will help children embrace healthier lifestyles while fostering values such as discipline, confidence and greater independence. He stressed that investing in sport is also an investment in the country’s wellbeing, adding that following the pilot project in Cottonera, the initiative will gradually be extended to other localities so that more children and families can benefit.

During the visit, the Prime Minister also met representatives of the voluntary organisation Just Keep Swimming, led by coach Leanne Xuereb Ungaro, which provides specialised swimming lessons for children with disabilities. Xuereb Ungaro explained that the lessons help children build confidence by making them feel safe in the water, while also having a calming effect that enables many children to become more focused afterwards. She said the programme’s implementation during school hours is expected to make it particularly beneficial for participating children.

The programme will be managed by SportMalta and will complement the Government’s existing initiative providing free swimming lessons for children with autism, further strengthening efforts to make sport more accessible and inclusive.

Prime Minister Robert Abela was accompanied during the visit by Minister for Education and Sport Byron Camilleri and Minister for Inclusion and the Voluntary Sector Julia Farrugia.