MALTA PARALYMPIC COMMITTEE HIGHLIGHTS EDUCATION-FIRST STRATEGY DURING ITS AGM
- Malta Paralympic Committee
- Jul 13
- 2 min read
During its annual general meeting, Malta Paralympic Committee (MPC) highlighted the role of education in driving culture change and enhancing accessibility to opportunities in sport for persons with disabilities in Malta.
Reporting to national sports associations and federations, sports clubs, athletes and other members of the Paralympic community, MPC highlighted how its “education-first” approach is leaving a positive impact on Maltese society. Through initiatives such as the I’mPOSSIBLE Education Programme, its collaboration with the Maltese Olympic Committee via joint Olympic & Paralympic education workshops, and collaborations with organisations in the sports, education, health and disability sectors, MPC is allowing us rethink how society interacts with persons with disabilities. In 2025 alone, MPC reached 15 schools, engaging with over 5,000 students, educators and parents in the process, and convincing individuals with disabilities to try out sport for the first time. MPC also highlighted how 90% of its resources are invested directly in developing coaches and Para athletes, with a strategic focus on Para swimming, Para rowing and Para powerlifting, thanks to its collaboration with mainstream sports clubs in these disciplines.
MPC Secretary General, Dr Julian Bajada, emphasised that “Change happens through persistence, resilience, patience and dedication to our ethos of inclusion meets excellence. Demand for Para sport is at the highest levels we have ever seen. One of the stories that shaped 2025 was the workshop held with paediatricians at Mater Dei hospital, who were supportive of the concept of encouraging young children and youths with disabilities to participate in sport and physical activity as a means of enhancing their well-being. That is education in motion, that is how we are encouraging people with disabilities to create a lifelong connection to movement, mobility, and independent living. Small steps, big impact.” Dr Bajada also recalled the publication of MPC’s first-ever colouring book for children entitled “Unstoppable Me”. The colouring book highlights the stories of no less than thirty Para athletes from Malta and Gozo, all with a unique and inspirational story to tell, united by their positive attitude and willpower, regardless of the challenges they may face in life.
In his closing remarks, MPC President, Prof. Joseph N Grima, underscored how he has witnessed Para sport in Malta change over his eight-year tenure as MPC President: “When we started this journey together in 2018, we often faced hesitance or reluctance by persons with disabilities and their families to engage in sport. Nowadays, we are seeing demand outgrow supply - it is rare for a week or a month to go by without someone coming forward to try out Para sport. This is indicative of Para sport gradually being a normal and integral part of the sport scene in Malta.”
Malta Paralympic Committee wishes to express its gratitude to all athletes and stakeholders, sponsors, and partners who contribute to Paralympic sport, including The Ministry for Education and Sport, The Ministry for Inclusion and Voluntary Organisations, SportMalta, The Malta Council for the Voluntary Sector, The Malta Trust Foundation, The Authority for Integrity in Maltese Sport, the Maltese Olympic Committee, and APS Bank, among others.
Malta Paralympic Committee’s full Annual Report 2025 is available on https://www.paralympic.mt/news.
This press release is also available in Maltese:
Published on 13th July at 18:00 CET.
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