Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/950286
maltatoday WEDNESDAY 7 MARCH 2018 Sport 20 SPORTTODAY COMMONWEALTH GAMES FOOTBALL Twenty five athletes to represent Malta at the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games ON 4 April 2018, Malta will be joining over 6,600 athletes and team officials from 70 na- tions and territories who will converge on the Gold Coast for the twenty first edition of the Commonwealth Games. Chef de Mission Paul Sul- tana announced that Team Malta will consist of 25 ath- letes, which meets the quota allocated to Malta by the Commonwealth Games Fed- eration. From the eighteen sporting disciplines present at the Games, Maltese athletes will be competing in eight, namely Athletics, Cycling, Gymnastics, Lawn Bowls, Squash, Shooting, Wrestling and Weightlifting. Sultana went on to explain that following an onsite visit, he can attest to the high level of preparation that went into the venues and the athletes village which augur well for a spectacular Games. Director of Sport Ivan Balzan described the selection process which was carried out by means of Minimum Quali- fying Standards that each Fed- eration was expected to meet in order to be considered for Games qualification. Balzan explained that he was pleased with the level of close coop- eration between the MOC and Federations involved. He went on to explain that regu- lar communication was un- dertaken to ensure that all parties were fully informed of the progress registered. MOC President Julian Pace Bonello concluded the press conference by expressing his gratitude towards athletes and Federations who have shown their commitment towards these Games. The MOC is confident that the preparation put in by Maltese athletes will produce some positive results for Malta. Pace Bonello went on to en- courage the general public to follow and support Team Malta through the various social media channels of the Maltese Olympic Committee. Pace Bonello went on to announce Team Malta's Flagbearer for the Opening Ceremony. Young wrestler Gary Giordimaina was cho- sen for this coveted honour, following the consistent performance given and re- sults achieved in recent in- ternational competitions. Head of Delegation will be Julian Pace Bonello, Presi- dent of the Maltese Olym- pic Committee who will be accompanied by Secre- tary General Joseph Cas- sar. Chef de Mission duties will be undertaken by Paul Sultana. Other officials pre- sent to assist the contingent will be Ivan Balzan, Director of Sport, Charlene Attard, Mario Micallef and Maria Vella-Galea. Kirill Micallef Stafrace, head of the Medical Team. The Maltese delegation will leave Malta for Australia on the 29th March and first commitments will be taken up by Gymnastics, Lawn Bowls, Squash and Weight- lifting on the 5th of April. Gold Coast Commonwealth Games Team Malta Athletics: Andrew Cassar Torregiani, Ian Paul Grech, Charlotte Wingfield. Official: James Hillier Cycling: David Treacy, Alex- ander Smyth. Official: Etienne Bonello Gymnastics: Sana Grillo. Of- ficial: Antonina Uzinova Lawn Bowls: Brendan Aq- uilina, Sharon Callus, Shaun Parnis, Connie-Leigh Rixon, Rebecca Rixon, Rosemary Rix- on. Officials: Rex Johnston, Joe Saragozza Shooting: Marlon Attard, Eleonor Bezzina, William Chetcuti, Brian Galea, Nathan Lee Xuereb. Officials: Francis Bugeja, John Mary Bugeja Squash: Bradley Hindle, Di- anne Kellas, Colette Sultana, Daniel Zammit Lewis. Offi- cial: Joe Zammit Lewis Weightlifting: Yazmin Zam- mit Stevens. Official: Jesmond Caruana Wrestling: David Galea, Gary Giordmaina, Adam Vella. Of- ficial: Jesmond Giordimaina The Maltese Olympic Com- mittee thanks its Official Sponsor – Emirates and Of- ficial Partners – Full Marks Sporting, Joma, Planet Physio, Saint James Hospital and Ki- netika for their ongoing sup- port. Fiorentina, Cagliari retire number 13 shirt in memory of Astori FIORENTINA and Cagliari will retire the number 13 shirt worn by defender Davide Astori after the Italy international died of a sudden illness over the weekend at the age of 31, the Italian clubs said yesterday. Astori, who made 289 Serie A appearances in 10 seasons and played 14 times for the national team, joined Fiorentina on loan in 2015. The club signed him outright one year later and he went on to become their captain. He previously spent six seasons at Cagliari and one on loan at AS Roma. "In honour of Davide #Astori's memory, @CagliariCalcio and #ACFFiorentina have decided to retire the No. 13 shirt. #DA13," Fiorentina said on Twitter. Cagliari posted a similar message. Astori was found dead in his hotel room on Sunday in Udine where Fiorentina had been due to play Udinese. Serie A post- poned all Sunday's matches. Italian public prosecutors said on Monday they are to open pro- ceedings to determine whether Astori's death could be consid- ered as manslaughter. Davide Astori