The organisers of the 2010 SportMalta Awards – L-Għażliet Sportivi Nazzjonali are promising a glitzy ceremony as the finalists in each of the five categories were unveiled yesterday.

Double trap shooter William Chetcuti and basketball player Rebecca Brincat Thoresen, the holders of the Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year awards respectively, are in contention to retain their titles along with the women’s basketball team.

In the Sportsman of the Year category, Chetcuti is joined by veteran sprinter Mario Bonello, canoeist Chris Camilleri, Massimo Cremona, the table football stalwart, and leading footballer Andrè Schembri.

Tenpin bowler Sue Abela, triathlete Danica Bonello Spiteri, canoeist Nicola Borg Costanzi and swimmer Davina Mangion are the other contenders for the Sportswoman of the Year prize.

The vote for the Official of the Year award will deliver a new winner as Tonio Cini, the Malta Motorsport Federation president who topped last year’s poll among members of the Sports Journalists Association (GħĠS), has not been shortlisted for this year’s award. Football referee Esther Azzopardi, Jesmond Caruana (weightlifting), Joe Caruana Curran (billiards and snooker), Silvio Catania (table football) and Antonio Mizzi (basketball) are the nominees for the best official prize.

The national women’s basketball team face competition from shooting duo Darren Vella and Clive Farrugia, and the national selections of table football, triathlon and horse racing for the team accolade.

Five up-and-coming athletes are vying for the John Debattista trophy. The finalists are swimmers Nikki Muscat and Mark Sammut, table tennis player Daniel Bajada, judoka Jeremy Saywell and squash player Colette Sultana.

The announcement of the finalists was the highlight of a media briefing yesterday, held at the Mediterranean Conference Centre, the venue of the awards ceremony on January 29.

Bernard Vassallo, chairman of the Kunsill Malti għall-Isport (KMS), announced that Jean Todt, the former Ferrari team chief who now heads the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), has accepted an invitation to be the VIP guest for the presentations night.

Pippo Psaila, the event director, gave an update on the preparations for the awards night and the initiativates being taken by the organisers to promote the event.

“The awards ceremony will be much more than a two-hour programme,” Psaila said.

“Our aim is to spread the message about the values of sport, primarily among schoolchildren.

“Slowly, sports is acquiring a strategic importance for people of all ages but we have to target the young ones because they represent the future of our nation.”

While commenting positively on the working relationship between the KMS and the GħĠS, the co-organisers of the SportMalta Awards – L-Għażliet Sportivi Nazzjonali, Psaila provided a sneak preview of the entertainment show during the live TVM broadcast of the awards ceremony.

A series of roadshows will take place in the week leading up to the awards night to promote the event and sports among schoolchildren.

“The protagonists of the roadshows will be the athletes themselves as they will be talking to the students about their involvement in sports,” Psaila said.

“On the Wednesday before the awards ceremony, we will hold a mega-school event with the participation of around 3,000 students at the Cottonera Sports Complex. The roadshow will also visit the University of Malta as well as one of the main shopping complexes in the country.”

Vassallo said that on January 29 the KMS will be handing out a host of special awards.

The coveted SportMalta Award will be bestowed on the best achiever of 2010.

The voting format for the SportMalta Award, won by powerboats champion Aaron Ciantar last year, will be as follows: 40 per cent of the final outcome will be based on the preferences of the GħĠS members in the sportsman and sportswoman of the year categories, 40 per cent from the real-time voting by the presidents of the various national associations and the remaining 20 per cent from a public vote.

For his part, Charles Camenzuli, the president of the GħĠS, said that this year’s SportMalta Awards – L-Għażliet Sportivi Nazzjonali has added significance as the GħĠS is celebrating its 40th anniversary.

“It will also be the 50th hosting of the Sportivi Nazzjonali since the late Benny Pace organised the first edition,” Camenzuli said.

Camenzuli warned that excessive pressure and lobbying by any of the nominees could lead to disqualification.

Questioned about the prospects of extending the agreement with the GħĠS over the co-hosting of this event, KMS chairman Vassallo said he sees no reason why the two entities can’t renew their partnership in light of their improved co-operation over the last few months.

The finalists

Sportsman of the year: Mario Bonello (athletics); Chris Camilleri (canoeing); William Chetcuti (shooting); Massimo Cremona (table football); Andrè Schembri (football).
2009 winner: William Chetcuti.
Sportswoman of the year: Sue Abela (bowling); Danica Bonello Spiteri (triathlon); Nicola Borg Costanzi (canoeing); Rebecca Brincat Thoresen (basketball), Davina Mangion (swimming).
2009 winner: Rebecca Brincat Thoresen.
Official of the year: Esther Az-zopardi (football); Jesmond Caruana (weightlifting); Joe Caruana Curran (billiards and snooker); Silvio Catania (table football); Antonio Mizzi (basketball).
2009 winner: Tonio Cini (Malta Motorsport Federation).
Team of the year: women’s basketball team; Clive Farrugia and Darren Vella (shooting); table football team; triathlon team; horse racing drivers’ team.
2009 winner: Women’s basketball team.
Youth athlete: Daniel Bajada (table tennis); Nikki Muscat (swimming); Mark Sammut (swimming); Jeremy Saywell (judo); Colette Sultana (squash).
2009 winner: Clive Farrugia (shooting).