National Lottery plc, in collaboration with the Malta Sports Journalists Association (MSJA), unveiled a new bi-monthly award exclusively dedicated to elite Maltese athletes.

The IZIBET Elite Athlete Award aims to recognise exceptional performances by local athletes and will be presented every two months covering  the periods  January–February, March-April, May-June, July–August, September-October, and November–December.

A selection board comprised of sports journalists and sports observers will be responsible for evaluating the athletes' achievements during the designated review periods, ensuring a fair and thorough assessment process.

The inaugural award, covering the period May–June 2023, was awarded to Malta’s Trap Champion, Gianluca Chetcuti. Chetcuti has beaten a national record of 124/125 target hits in the Trap Event, at the European Games 2023, held in the Wroclaw Shooting Centre in Poland, between the 21st June and 2nd July 2023. Chetcuti qualified for these games thanks to his achievement in March during the ISSF World Cup in Doha, Qatar, where he had 122/125 target hits in the Trap Event, becoming the first Maltese athlete to end up in the final of such an event. In the beginning of May, he had 114/125 hits in the Trap Event during the ISSF World Cup in Cairo, Egypt, where he placed 34th out of the 120 participants.

Franco De Gabriele, Chief Commercial Officer of National Lottery plc, highlighted the importance of sports within the Lottery’s annual corporate social responsibility programme. National Lottery plc has maintained a longstanding partnership with the MSJA and remains committed to supporting the invaluable work carried out by this association. Through this new collaboration, National Lottery plc aims to further demonstrate its dedication to local sports by acknowledging the remarkable achievements of local athletes on an international stage, while also raising awareness among local enthusiasts about the positive representation of local talent worldwide.

De Gabriele stated, "We take great pride in our partnership with the Malta Sports Journalists Association and are excited to launch this prestigious award. By recognising the efforts of our local athletes, we aim to encourage athletes to continue striving for excellence in their respective fields. We firmly believe that recognising their hard work and exceptional accomplishments will motivate them to progress further in their careers. By celebrating and honouring their achievements, we also hope to inspire a sense of national pride in our local sports community".

Sandro Micallef, President of the Malta Sports Journalists Association, expressed his satisfaction with National Lottery's continued investment in sports.

Micallef commented, "I am extremely satisfied that such a reputable company like National Lottery with its brand IZIBET has agreed to launch the Elite Athlete Award alongside the Malta Sports Journalists Association. Such an initiative will continue to support Maltese athletes giving merit to the sacrifices made by our local elite athletes in achieving the best results both locally and abroad".

In the meantime, the official website of the Malta Sports Journalists Association provides the rules and regulations governing the award from this link: https://www.maltasportsjournalists.com/izibet-elite-athlete-award/.

National Lottery plc, f’kolaborazzjoni mal-Għaqda Ġuranlsti Sports, ħabbret unur ġdid li se jibda jingħata lill-atleti Maltin elite kull xahrejn.

L-għan ewlieni tal-IZIBET Elite Athlete Award huwa li jirrikonoxxi s-suċċessi miksuba mill-atleti lokali għax-xhur ta’ Jannar–Frar, Marzu-April, Mejju-Ġunju, Lulju–Awissu, Settembru-Ottubru, u Novembru–Diċembru.

Il-bord tal-għażla huwa magħmul minn ġurnalisti u osservaturi sportivi li se jkunu qed jevalwaw bir-reqqa il-kisbiet tal-atleti matul ix-xhur imsemmija aktar qabel u jassiguraw li jkun hemm il-korretezza matul il-proċess kollu tal-għażla.

L-ewwel unur li se jkopri x-xhur ta’ Mejju u Ġunju 2023, ingħata lit-tiratur tat-Trap Gianluca Chetcuti. Dan it-tiratur kiser ir-rekord nazzjonali meta laqat 124 minn 125 platina fit-Trap Event, waqt il-European Games 2023, li saru fil-Wroclaw Shooting Centre fil-Polonja, bejn il-21 ta’ Ġunju u t-2 ta’ Lulju li għadda. Chetcuti kien ikkwalifika għal dawn il-European Games, bis-suċċess li kien kiseb f'Marzu, fl-ISSF World Cup f'Doha, fil-Qatar, fejn laqat 122 minn 125 plattina fit-Trap Event u sar l-ewwel tiratur Malti li wasal fil-finali ta' kompetizzjoni ta' dan il-livell. Huwa ħa sehem ukoll fil-bidu ta' Mejju, fl-ISSF World Cup li kienet saret fil-Kajr, l-Eġittu u laqat 114 minn 125 plattina fit-Trap Event u spiċċa fl 34 post minn 120 tiratur.

Franco De Gabriele, Chief Commercial Officer ta’ National Lottery plc, irrimarka l-importanza li l-kumpanija tati lill-isports permezz tal-corporate social responsibility programme. National Lottery plc bi pjaċir testendi l-ħidma tagħha flimkien mal-Għaqda Ġurnalisti Sports u tibqa’ tappoġja lil din l-assoċjazzjoni li taħdem bla heda għall-ġid tal-isport f’pajjiżna. Permezz ta’ din il-kolaborazzjoni ġdida, National Lottery plc tkompli turi l-impenn tagħha lejn l-isport lokali u tapprezza l-kisbiet tal-atleti lokali anki barra minn xtutna. Dan l-unur, għandu jgħin sabiex titqajjem kuxjenza fost dawk li jsegwu l-isport lokali, għas-sagrifiċji kollha li jġibu magħhom kompetizzjonijiet internazzjonali.

De Gabriele qal, "Aħna ninsabu kburin li qednissieħbu mal-Għaqda Ġurnalisti Sports sabiex iniedu dan il-premju prestiġjuż. Meta nagħrfu l-isforzi li jsiru mill-atleti lokali, inkunu qed ninkoraġixxu lil dawn l-istess atleti biex ikomplu jtejjbu l-prestazzjonijiet tagħhom fid-dixxiplini rispettivi tagħhom. Bħala kumpanija nemmnu li l-ħidma u s-suċċessi miksuba minnhom jservu ta’ motivazzjoni fil-karriera sportiva tagħhom. Nittamaw ukoll li tiżdied il-kburija tagħna bħla Maltin fil-komunità sportva lokali".

Sandro Micallef, President tal-Għaqda Ġurnalisti Sports wera s-sodisfazzjon tiegħu għall-impenn ta’ National Lottery li tkompli tinvesti fl-isport.

Micallef ikkumenta, "Jiena ninsab ferm sodisfatt li kumpanija rispettabli bħal National Lottery bil-prodott tagħha IZIBET, qablet li tniedi l-Elite Athlete Award flimkien mal-Għaqda Ġurnalisti Sports. Inizjattiva bħal din tkompli tappoġja lill-atleti Maltin għas-sagrifiċji li jagħmlu sabiex jiksbu s-suċessi lokalment u internazzjonalment ".

Ir-regolamenti tal-IZIBET Elite Athlete Award jistgħu jinkisbu minn fuq il-website tal-Għaqda Ġurnalisti Sports minn fuq https://www.maltasportsjournalists.com/izibet-elite-athlete-award/.