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maltatoday | SUNDAY • 14 APRIL 2024 7 COMMERCIAL Hibernians FC win the Marlene Tony Bajada Memorial Tournament HAMRUN, Malta - April 4, 2024 - The Marlene® Tony Bajada Me- morial Tournament returned for its second consecutive year and its 20th edition last Saturday, March 30th, at the Hamrun Spartans Football Club, bringing together over 400 athletes and coaches for a day of spirited competition and camaraderie. The tournament, sponsored by Marlene, which saw he highlight in the Under 14 Cate- gory with Hibernians FC emerged as the winners for the third time, with San Gwann securing the runners-up position. The Marlene® Tony Bajada Me- morial Tournament is not just about competition; it's a celebra- tion of life, athleticism, and com- munity spirit. This year's event lived up to its promise to be even more thrilling, with athletes from various age groups showcasing their passion for sports and hon- ouring Tony Bajada's enduring legacy. The tournament organisers, Hamrun Local Council together with Hamrun Spartans FC Elite Academy who did a wonderful job throughout, featured three cate- gories, catering to athletes born in 2018/2017, 2016, and 2010, with a total of 28 teams and 300 players participating. Additionally, the Under 14 Category (Born 2010) extended the excitement from Monday to Wednesday, April 1st to 3rd, with 120 competitors vy- ing for the Tony Bajada Challenge Cup. Marlene's® sponsorship of the tournament does not only signi- fy supporting a tournament but endorsing a way of life. Marlene® aims to inspire individuals to adopt a balanced lifestyle that pri- oritizes nutrition and well-being. Marlene's® sponsorship of the tournament signifies more than just support for a sporting event; it represents a commitment to promoting healthy living among young athletes. By encouraging wholesome dietary habits, Mar- lene® aims to inspire athletes to prioritize their overall well-being. The event, dedicated to the memory of Tony Bajada, not on- ly honoured his legacy but also emphasised the importance of healthy eating in sports. Marlene®, the main sponsor of the tourna- ment, proudly supported this ini- tiative, aligning seamlessly with its ongoing campaigns promoting an active and wholesome lifestyle. For more information about Marlene and its initiatives, visit www.marlene.com BOV talks artificial intelligence in the banking world AS banks continue to navigate the complexities of a rapidly evolving digital landscape, the integration of AI technologies promises to redefine industry standards and elevate customer satisfaction to unprecedented heights. This was stated by Ivo Camilleri, Chief Strategy, Transformation and Data Officer while introducing a workshop for BOV employees, focusing on the use of AI in the Financial Services World. The Bank sought the collaboration of experts from the renowned glob- al firm Strategy& to contribute to this event. Strategy& present- ed cutting-edge advancements in the fields of AI that are relevant to the whole banking sector. They shared their insights and perspec- tives with those present. The discussion moved from sur- rounding emerging technologies like Gen AI and Deep Learning to practical tools such as Microsoft CoPilot which are tailored for the banking industry. The experts at the event hinted at what could be the trajectory of financial institu- tions toward an increasingly tech- nologically driven future. It was noted that, despite ad- vances made, Europe finds itself approximately 1.5 years behind North America in embracing such innovations. However, the silver lining lies in the flexibility of resource capacity requirements. Even if one had to start with modest numbers or small opera- tions, the returns yielded would be significant. This acknowledg- ment underscores the immense potential for growth and innova- tion within the European banking landscape. Moreover, discussions at the event highlighted the need for banks to identify strategic entry points across various functions to embark on their transforma- tive journey. AI brings important shifts towards greater automation and efficiency. More recently it is also expanding to encompass sophisticated applications in risk management, fraud prevention and tailored customer service. This shift requires broad upskill- ing initiatives across different teams within the organisation. Meanwhile, for banks to operate at scale successfully, it will be nec- essary to create interlinkages be- tween engineering expertise and leveraging AI tools. MORE than 10,000 copies of an original fairy tale narrating Malta's environmental degra- dation are being distributed to all government primary schools as part of this year's National Readathon. The book — The Land of Fairy Fails, written by Benja- min Portelli — is intended to encourage children to get lost in the world of reading and mo- tivate them to use their powers and talents to protect planet Earth. Organised by the Malta Foun- dation for the Wellbeing of So- ciety, the Malta Trust Founda- tion and the National Literacy Agency, the seventh edition of the readathon — with the slo- gan Any Time, Any Place — is geared to stimulate children's creativity and to share ideas for a greener, healthier environ- ment. The book, aimed towards chil- dren aged seven to 11, follows Wizard Willy as he embarks on a journey to clear the seabed from the plastic suffocating ma- rine life, plant trees for cleaner air, and ditch his aerocarmarine for a greener mode of transport — his magic broom — so that we can all see the stars once the traffic smog clears. The story, penned by Portelli when he was 17, as part of his Systems of Knowledge project, has been translated into Mal- tese by Martina Oliva. An inter- active activity booklet has also been designed for the younger years. Portelli, who turns 19 later this month, wrote this tale with the hope of making children aware and interested in the concept of environmental responsibility in an engaging way. This ties in with the ethos of the National Readathon, which kicked off this morning with an adventure for children at St Clare's College, Pembroke, who huddled up on the seats to lis- ten to the story being read out by the reading ambassadors. 10,000 copies of fairy tale handed to schoolchildren as part of National Readathon