Maltese presence at Sicilian awards

Journalist Lamberto Sposini, fencing champion Valentina Vezzali, singer Anna Tatangelo and journalist Perla Liliana Costa were the winners of this year's edition of the Premio Top Sprint - Omaggio Alla Sicilianità, an event with a Maltese connection held annually at the Teatro Metropolitan, in Catania.

Air Malta was once again one of the official sponsors while Malta's Julie and Ludwig took part with a performance of All I Ask Of You from the Phantom of the Opera, which went down very well with the audience.

The event, which has been running for 16 years, awards Italian personalities who have distinguished themselves in their profession or others who have promoted Sicilian culture. In fact, the Siciliani Nel Mondo (Sicilians in the world) award goes to Sicilians who have made a name for themselves in foreign lands, such as Ms Costa, who is very active in promoting her culture in Argentina where she resides.

Journalists Sergio Regalbuto and Flaminia Belfiore presented the event, while acting as a madrina or godmother was none other than the statuesque Alba Parietta, who stole the show with her presence.

The programme included dance numbers, a cabaret sketch, performances by Sicilian band Sugarfree who made it big in the Italian charts this summer with their song Kleptomania, and Ms Tatangelo herself who was the winner of the Giovani section of the Sanremo festival in 2002 and since then had a string of hits.

Local singers invited to previous editions have included Claudette Pace, Fabrizio Faniello, Ira Losco, Lawrence Gray and Olivia Lewis.

At the end of the show, a number of prizes were drawn for the patrons, including flights to and accommodation in Malta.

In 1995, Air Malta was presented with the Top Sprint award for "its fundamental role in cementing the economic links between the two islands". The airline has been present at the event for 12 years, with the aim of further increasing the cultural and commercial links between Malta and Catania.

Other local sponsors of the show this year included InterContinental Hotel Malta, Casinò di Venezia and Hilton Malta.

This winter Air Malta is operating eight weekly flights to Catania. For more information about Air Malta destinations and packages visit www.airmalta.com.

The show is being aired today on Super One at 8 p.m.