Sport in Malta
Sports in Malta include association football, basketball, athletics, rugby, tennis, cycling, and others.
Football
Association football (soccer) is the most popular sport in Malta. The national stadium is called Ta' Qali Stadium. The top football league in Malta is called the Maltese Premier League, and consists of 14 teams. Futsal is also very popular.
Basketball
In 2020, Malta got its first-ever female head coach leading a men’s Division One basketball team. It was Silvia Gambino who started the position at Mellieħa S.C. Libertas.
Athletics
Athletics in Malta has a rich history and a vibrant present, with the sport being practiced all year round due to the country’s mild climate. The sport encompasses a variety of disciplines including running, jumping, throwing, and walking.
Rugby
Rugby Union has been played in Malta since the beginning of the 20th century, with evidence of rugby pitches at RAF Ta' Qali Air Field in the 1920s and other fields in RAF Luqa Air Field. The Malta Rugby Football Union was formed in 1991.
Tennis
Along with other sports, tennis is a popular activity in Malta and Gozo. The islands offer a wide range of options for both beginners and elite players. Clubs are spread out across Malta and games are being played on a regular basis all year around.
Cycling
The popularity of cycling in Malta as a sport, a means of commuting, and as a way of exploring the island of Malta is on the increase. In recent years, the Maltese authorities, most notably the Malta Transport Authority, have worked hard to make this activity more accessible and safer.
Watersports
Malta is a good place for surfing and offers a lot of different surf spots. During winter time most of the beaches transform into surfer hangouts.
Water Polo
Water Polo is also very popular in Malta. Maltese clubs participate in the European Club competitions organised by LEN, are seen as being in the top 10 water polo leagues in Europe.
Boċċi
Boċċi is the Maltese version of the Italian game of bocce. Other than certain differences in rules and the ground on which the game is played, one of the most obvious differences between Maltese boċċi and foreign equivalents is the shape of the bowls themselves which tend to be cylindrical rather than spherical in shape.
Hockey
Maltese National Hockey League is the official field hockey league in Malta, with 4 teams participating in the National League. The current champions are Sliema Hotsticks Hockey Club.
The National Hockey Stadium is located in Paola, Kordin.
Motorsport
Motorsport includes drag racing represented by the Malta Drag Racing Association, with recent high ranking Maltese dragsters in official FIA European championships. There is also autocross (ASMK), hill climb (Island Car Club), motocross, karting and banger racing championships.
Volleyball
Volleyball is a popular sport in Malta, with a vibrant community of players and fans. The Malta Volleyball Association (MVA) is the governing body for the sport in the country. The MVA organizes various leagues and tournaments, providing a platform for athletes to showcase their skills and passion for the game.
Snooker
Malta also hosts a snooker round, the Malta Cup, which as of 2008 became a non-ranking event. In 2008 Malta's Tony Drago was a member of a victorious European Mosconi Cup team, which was played in Portomaso, Malta. Claudio Cassar was World Blackball Champion in 2014.
Boxing
Boxer Jeff Fenech is of Maltese descent. Recently contact sports such as Boxing and Kickboxing have become increasingly popular.
Cricket
Malta is an affiliate member of the ICC & has full Twenty20 International status. Home games are played at Marsa. In 2020 there was a T20 summer domestic league consisting of 12 teams, and in 2019 a 50-over winter league which comprised 5 teams.
Rock Climbing
There are over 1,200 rock climbing routes in Malta. The island offers a mixture of both trad climbing and sport climbing and also offers a good variety of bouldering and deep water soloing. The geography and small size of the island makes the climbing easily accessible.