For more than a decade, Malta has been investing in a sporting transformation. New swimming pools, modern basketball facilities, specialised training centres and upgraded sports complexes have changed the island's sporting landscape. But during the ESWAM study visit to Malta, Mark Cutajar, CEO of SportMalta, challenged the delegation to look beyond the buildings. The real ambition is not simply to provide more places to practise sport. It is to create a country where physical activity becomes a natural part of everyday life. And that is a considerably more complicated challenge.
Since the introduction of Malta's national sports strategy in 2014, the government has invested more than €200 million in sports infrastructure, according to Cutajar. The ESWAM delegation experienced part of this investment firsthand, visiting the National Pool and the Malta Basketball Association's facilities. These developments are particularly remarkable in a densely populated island nation where land is limited and competition for space is intense. Malta has deliberately chosen to strengthen its sporting infrastructure, recognising that access to suitable facilities is an important foundation for participation, talent development and international sporting events.
The results appear encouraging, although the figures require careful interpretation. SportMalta's October 2026 analysis of the latest Eurobarometer reported that the proportion of Maltese respondents who never engage in other physical activity outside organised sport had fallen from 57% in 2014 to 26% in 2026. Meanwhile, 48% reported exercising or playing sport regularly, slightly above the European average of 47%. These figures suggest significant progress in creating a more active population. Yet approximately 35% still reported never exercising or playing sport. Malta's experience illustrates an important distinction: increasing opportunities for physical activity does not automatically mean everyone will embrace them.
One of the most ambitious elements of Malta's approach focuses on children and young people. Cutajar described an extensive after-school programme involving approximately 7,000 children and 300 part-time coaches, combining physical activity with healthy eating and educational support. The government has also introduced free gym memberships for eligible young people, while SportMalta's summer programmes reached around 3,000 participants in 2026. These initiatives reflect a broader philosophy: sport should not depend entirely on family income, club membership or parental resources. By making activities affordable and accessible, Malta is attempting to establish active habits early in life.
But Cutajar's presentation also triggered a critical discussion. Does providing a free gym membership mean someone actually uses it? And does participating in a subsidised programme lead to a lasting sporting habit? Registration figures can demonstrate reach, but they reveal relatively little about sustained participation. For municipalities across Europe, this distinction matters. Public investment should ultimately be assessed not only through the number of opportunities created, but also through their ability to engage people who would otherwise remain inactive.
Malta's approach to sports facilities offers another fascinating lesson. Many facilities remain publicly owned while sports clubs and associations manage their daily operations. Cutajar explained that rental costs are heavily subsidised, reducing the financial burden on sporting organisations. At the same time, Maltese regulations allow eligible clubs to commercialise up to 40% of their premises, subject to approval. Restaurants and other commercial activities can generate income to support sporting operations. During the previous day's visits to Neptunes Swimming & Water Polo Club and Sliema Wanderers, the delegation had already witnessed how creative financial models can contribute to the sustainability of sports facilities..
“Building sports facilities creates opportunities. Turning those opportunities into lasting habits is the real challenge.”
Perhaps even more relevant for European municipalities is SportMalta's approach to existing school infrastructure. Through its facilities-sharing arrangements, school sports spaces can be made available to registered sporting organisations outside school hours, with substantial public support for operating costs and rental fees. Rather than continually constructing new facilities, Malta is demonstrating how existing infrastructure can serve multiple purposes. In European cities struggling with limited budgets, growing populations and increasing pressure on available land, this approach deserves serious attention.
SportMalta is also expanding its focus beyond traditional facilities. The Let's Move Malta initiative, introduced in 2025, reflects a broader commitment to community participation, collaboration and accessible physical activity. Outdoor gyms, local programmes and opportunities for older residents complement investments in organised sport. Yet the latest Eurobarometer reveals an uncomfortable contradiction: despite improving activity levels, around a quarter of Maltese respondents spend more than eight and a half hours sitting each day. Car dependency, congestion, limited cycling infrastructure and increasingly hot summers make everyday movement challenging. Building another sports complex cannot solve these problems alone.
This is where municipalities become indispensable. Cutajar acknowledged the need for stronger cooperation with local councils, which understand the circumstances of their communities. In Sliema, where public space is scarce, the delegation encountered a different kind of innovation: outdoor fitness areas, accessible activities for older residents and creative use of the waterfront. The contrast is revealing. National government can provide investment, infrastructure and programmes, but local authorities influence whether people can actually integrate movement into their daily routines.
Malta's sporting transformation offers European cities both inspiration and a challenge. Public investment has created impressive opportunities, innovative financing models are helping clubs become more sustainable, and participation programmes are reaching thousands of residents. Yet the ultimate ambition extends far beyond facilities, memberships and participation statistics. A genuinely active nation is one where sport is affordable, existing spaces are used intelligently and physical activity is embedded in everyday life. Malta has invested heavily in creating the opportunities. The next measure of success will be how many people turn those opportunities into lasting habits
Mark Cutajar CEO of SportMalta