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28 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 1 DECEMBER 2019 MOC SPORTS Maltese Olympic Committee announces finalists of the 18th MOC Sports Awards THE Maltese Olympic Com- mittee announced the finalists of the 18th Edition of the an- nual Gala Sports Awards which will take place on Saturday 7 December at the Corinthia Pal- ace Hotel & Spa in Attard. The chosen athletes will be those that stood out in their respective sporting categories and will be recognised for their accomplishments during the competition period October 2018 – October 2019. Award Categories start from the Special Award, followed by Bronze, Silver, Gold and Plati- num and will be bestowed based on the results achieved in major international competitions or- ganised under the auspices of the International Federation of the athletes' respective sport or a recognised and reputable In- ternational Sport Organisation. The MOC Sports Awards Or- ganising team, led by Deputy President William Beck, ex- plained that this year's edition 87 nominations were received from 20 Associations. These athletes and teams will be awarded for their achievements when representing Malta in in- ternational championships. The finalists and the actual category of the award were de- termined by the MOC Tech- nical Commission under the leadership of Ivan Balzan – the MOC's Director of Sport. The evening will also recognise four local councils for their con- tribution to promote sports in their locality and will in- duce four new members to the MOC's Hall of Fame. Local Council Awards A total of twelve Local Coun- cils submitted their entries for consideration. The Award will be given to those localities hav- ing given substantial contribu- tion towards sport. The criteria for considera- tion was based on activities organised within the locality, including schools in that area, any seminars conducted relat- ing to sports and fitness, any as- sistance given to local sporting associations as well as the con- tribution towards the mainte- nance and building of sporting facilities. Guest of Honour Szilveszter Csollány, former Hungarian gymnast will be the guest of honour for the evening. Considered as one of the best gymnasts in Olympic history, his 9.85 score achieved in the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney led him to win the gold medal in the men's rings. This medal followed the sil- ver medal obtained during the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games. The 2000 Sydney Olympics success was enough to be cho- sen as 'The 2000 Hungarian Sportsman of The Year'. He was once again chosen as sportsman of the year in 2002 after winning a gold medal at that year's World Artistic Gym- nastics Championships in De- brechen. On five occasions in 1992 – Paris, 1996 – San Juan, 1997 – Lausanne , 1999 – Tian- jin and 2001 – Ghent was silver medalist in the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships besides winning the gold medal at the 1998 European Champi- onships. At the moment he is one of world's renowned gymnastics coaches both in Hungary and in other European countries. Hall of Fame The Maltese Olympic Com- mittee will also be announcing a number of inductees to its Hall of Fame. The criteria for selection are based on individuals' having a reputation of high integrity be- fore and even during the period that one is elected to the Hall of Fame. The individuals being con- sidered for such an honour are those whose contributions, both in the field of play as well as in the administrative roles they occupied, have left an in- delible mark in their respective fields. 18th MOC Sports Awards Finalists Malta Amateur Athletic Association Claire Rose Azzopardi, Lisa Marie Bezzina, Ian Paul Grech, Paula Grech, Jordan Dan- iel Gusman, Damien Jeffrey Charles Mizzi, Rachela Pace Aquatic Sports Association of Malta Mya Azzopardi, Dylan Cachia, Andre Camilleri, Andrew Chet- cuti, Luke Ellul Sullivan, Franc- esca Falzon Young, Matthew Galea, Sasha Gatt, Emily Grech Carr, Alexandra McGonigle, Haley Pawley Neame, Harry Stacey, Mikhail Umnov, Mar- tina Valletta, Michee Van Rooyen Badminton Malta Matthew Abela Malta Billiards & Snooker Association Duncan Bezzina, Tony Drago Malta Federation of Body Building & Fitness Bader Almiloudi, Roderick Theuma Malta Cycling Federation Marie Claire Aquilina, Etienne Bonello, Christian Formosa, Men's National Team (Etienne Bonello, William Hili, Jason Vella, Brandon Sultana, Clive Bugeja, Mariano Cassar) Malta Golf Association Nicholas Beck, Andrew Borg, Ruud Critien, JJ Micallef" Malta Gymnastics Federation Ella Borg, Tara Vella Clark Malta Judo Federation Isaac Bezzina, Katrina Esposi- to, Jeremy Saywell Malta Karate Federation Kimberly Stanton Malta Pool Association Scott Muscat, Men's National Team (Miguel Falzon, Mario Cutajar, Anton Cuschieri, Christ Tabone, Dylan Cassar, Kevin Mercieca) Malta Sailing Federation Elusive 2 Sailing Team (Aaron Podesta, Maya Podesta, Chris- toph Podesta, David Anastasi, Gareth Grech, Ben Pace Leh- ner, Andrea Crocella, Tom Zammit Tabona, Adrian Stone, Magnus Everskog) Malta Shooting Sports Federation Eleanor Bezzina, Gianluca Chetcuti, William Chetcuti Malta Squash Association Kijan Sultana, Lijana Sultana Malta Table Football Sports Association Jurgen Balzan, Derek Conti Malta Taekwondo Federation Amani Faraoun Malta Tennis Federation Francesca Curmi, Elaine Genovese, Helene Pellicano Malta Tenpin Bowling Association Sue Abela, Mauro Anastasi, Cynthia Frendo Duca, Kayden Lagana, Mark Spiteri, Sara Xuereb, Dwayne Zahra Malta Triathlon Federation Hannah Cutajar Malta Weight-lifting Association Vlad Baldacchino, Matthew Camilleri, Shaun Ciantar, Rob- erta Tabone, Tenishia Thorn- ton, Yasmin Zammit Stevens