The Maltese contingent taking part in the XV Summer European Youth Olympic Festival, taking place in Baku, Azerbaijan in the coming days left Malta this morning, where they are expected to join around 3,600 young athletes and their officials.
Held under the auspices of the International Olympic Committee for the past twenty-five years, the European Youth Olympic Festival (EYOF) is a high level European multi-sport event aimed towards young athletes aged 14 to 18. The events take place in two-year cycles, in odd-numbered years. It is at the EYOF that many of Europe’s inspiring sports stars of tomorrow take their first steps on the international stage.
The Maltese contingent is being represented by four athletes. In Athletics Malta will be represented by Rachela Pace who will take part in the technical event of long jump, whilst Kurt Zahra will take part in the 200m sprint. In Swimming, the young Sasha Gatt will compete in the freestyle events of 50m, 100m and 200m whilst gymnast Ella Borg will take part in Artistic Gymnastics. Maltese athletes will be in action as of Monday 22nd July.
Malta’s Flag Bearer at the Opening Ceremony will be Swimmer Sasha Gatt who not only broke thirteen National Records but was also part of the 4 x 200 m Freestyle Relay team who won Bronze at the 2019 Games of the Small States of Europe in Montenegro in May.
The Maltese athletes are being accompanied by coaches Rachid Chouhal (Athletics), Catalin Ioan Stan (Swimming) and Nataliya Berehova (Gymnastics). Chef de Mission duties will be undertaken by Maltese Olympic Committee Director Charlene Attard.
Front – Left to Right – Sasha Gatt (Swimming), Ella Borg (Gymnastics), Natalia Berehova (Coach, Gymnastics), Kurt Zahra (Athletics)
Back – Left to Right – Catalin Stan Ioan (Coach, Swimming), Charlene Attard (Chef de Mission), Rachela Pace (Athletics)
