The Malta Sports Journalists Association pays tribute to the memory of Mario Meli, as his death was announced in the past few hours, at the age of 84. He was one of the founding members of the Sports Writers Association in 1970 where he served as Assistant Secretary and later as Treasurer for many years.

Born in 1940, while a student at Stella Maris College he began practicing athletics where he became local champion in the 800 metres and 1500 metres. In 1962 he joined Rediffusion as a correspondent and later with Radju Malta and from 1975 with Television Malta where he retired in 2015. As a journalist and commentator he attended many international events abroad including three editions of the Mediterranean Games and two editions of the Games for Small States of Europe. He was editor of the weekly newspaper Panorama Sports and the annual Arena Sportiva.

His commitment to sport goes beyond reporting, as he held several important roles in local sports associations. In fact, he was the President of the Games for All Association, Malta Cycling Federation, Malta Billiards & Snooker Association and the Malta Football Masters Association. For many years he was a member of the Executive of the Maltese Olympic Committee. For some years he was also a football referee.

In 2007 he was inducted into the Malta Sports Journalists Association's Hall of Fame and in 2022 into the Maltese Olympic Committee's Hall of Fame.

The Executive Committee of the Sports Journalists Association sends its condolences to the entire family.

L-Għaqda Ġurnalisti Sports isellem il-memorja ta’ Mario Meli, hekk kif tħabbret il-mewt tiegħu fis-sigħat li għaddew, fl-età ta' 84 sena. Huwa kien wieħed mill-membri fundaturi tal-Għaqda Kittieba Sports fl-1970 fejn serva bħala Assistent Segretarju u aktar tard bħala Teżorier għal bosta snin.

Imwieled fl-1940, fiż-żmien bħala student fil-Kulleġġ Stella Maris beda jipprattika l-atletika fejn sar champion lokali tat-800 metru u 1500 metru. Fl-1962 ingħaqad bħala korrispondent ma’ Rediffusion u wara ma’ Radju Malta u mill-1975 ma’ Television Malta fejn iritira fl-2015. Bħala ġurnalist u kummentatur attenda bosta avvenimenti internazzjonali barra pajjiżna fosthom tliet edizzjonijiet tal-Logħob tal-Mediterran u żewġ edizzjonijiet tal-Logħob tal-Pajjizi ż-Żgħar tal-Ewropa. Kien editur tal-gazzetta ta’ kull ġimgħa Panorama Sports u tal-annwal Arena Sportiva.

L-impenn tiegħu lejn l-isport imur lil hinn mir-rappurtaġġ, hekk kif kellu diversi rwoli importanti fl-għaqdiet sportivi lokali. Fil-fatt kien il-President tal-Għaqda Logħob għal Kulħadd, Malta Cycling Federation, Malta Billiards & Snooker Association u l-Malta Football Masters Association. Għal bosta snin kien membru tal-Eżekuttiv tal-Kumitat Olimpiku Malti. Għal xi snin kien ukoll referee tal-futbol.

Fl-2007 iddaħħal fil-Hall of Fame tal-Għaqda Ġurnalisti Sports u fl-2022 kien iddaħħal fil-Hall of Fame tal-Kumitat Olimpiku Malti.

Il-Kumitat Eżekuttiv tal-Għaqda Ġurnalisti Sports jibgħat il-kondoljanzi lill-familja kollha.