When European cities discuss the future of sport, the conversation usually revolves around participation, infrastructure and investment. How can we encourage more people to become active? How do we make facilities accessible? And how can sport contribute to healthier communities? During the ESWAM study visit to Malta, however, Ryan Borg introduced a different perspective. As Director of Strategy, International Relations and Support at the Authority for Integrity in Maltese Sport (AiMS), he challenged the delegation to consider something equally fundamental: what happens when the integrity of sport itself is at risk?
Malta has taken an unusual approach by establishing a dedicated national authority responsible for protecting sporting integrity. While SportMalta focuses on developing and delivering sport, AiMS operates as an independent regulatory authority under Malta's Sports Governance and Integrity Act. Its responsibilities include good governance, anti-doping, competition manipulation, safeguarding and the regulation of sporting organisations. Borg explained that creating this distinction between the operator and the regulator was a deliberate political decision. The government was not simply investing in more sport, but also in the institutions needed to protect its credibility.
The authority has grown considerably since its establishment. Borg described an organisation that expanded from a single employee to approximately 22 staff members, supported by additional specialists and consultants. In June 2026, AiMS awarded registration certificates to another 74 sporting organisations, bringing the reported total to 130. Registration is more than an administrative exercise. It creates a framework through which sporting organisations can be held accountable for their governance, responsibilities and conduct. For municipalities that provide subsidies, facilities or land to sports clubs, Malta raises an uncomfortable but necessary question: how thoroughly do we examine the organisations receiving public support?
The importance of independent oversight becomes clearer when examining the darker side of competition. During the discussion, Borg described a case involving young basketball players who deliberately passed the ball among themselves rather than competing normally against another team. What appeared to be unusual sporting behaviour triggered an investigation into possible competition manipulation. The explanation reportedly involved a sporting dispute rather than financial gain, yet the incident demonstrated how easily questions of integrity can arise, even in youth sport. It also exposed the difficulty of applying serious enforcement procedures to young athletes who may not fully understand the consequences of their actions.
A separate investigation involving Maltese water polo demonstrated why careful distinctions matter. In July 2026, international and Maltese sporting authorities concluded an investigation involving eleven players and one athlete support person over betting-related breaches. Crucially, investigators found no evidence that those involved had manipulated matches or bet on games in which they participated. The case nevertheless resulted in disciplinary findings concerning betting rules. It illustrates why effective regulation requires more than identifying suspicious behaviour. It demands evidence, proportionality, cooperation between authorities and a clear distinction between different offences.
Yet perhaps the most important development in Malta concerns safeguarding. In June 2026, AiMS published Best Practices in Maltese Sport, the country's first dedicated safeguarding handbook for the sporting sector. Developed following consultations with sporting, educational and social organisations, the publication provides practical guidance on creating safe environments, including communication, travel arrangements and changing facilities. Its significance extends beyond protecting children. Safeguarding also concerns adults, vulnerable participants and anyone exposed to harassment, discrimination, exploitation or abuse within sport.
“Investing in sport creates opportunities. Protecting its integrity creates trust.”
Borg was particularly critical of the assumption that good intentions are sufficient. Coaches, volunteers and administrators may be passionate about sport, but enthusiasm cannot replace appropriate training, background checks and clear reporting procedures. During the ESWAM discussion, representatives from Ireland explained how safeguarding education and Garda vetting are embedded in their sporting structures. The exchange revealed that European countries are confronting similar challenges through different systems. Malta is developing its framework, while established approaches elsewhere offer practical lessons. The opportunity lies in learning from those differences rather than pretending that one model will work everywhere.
Education emerged as a recurring theme. AiMS is expanding its activities beyond investigation and enforcement through lectures on anti-doping, competition manipulation, governance and safeguarding, alongside the development of digital learning resources. Borg argued that prevention must become as important as punishment. Athletes need to understand betting restrictions, coaches must recognise safeguarding risks, and clubs should know where and how to report concerns. Particularly in smaller sporting communities, where personal relationships can discourage whistleblowing, trust in reporting procedures is essential.
The discussion also moved beyond Malta's national institutions. Borg questioned whether European cooperation should remain limited to study visits and the exchange of inspiring examples. He suggested that networks such as ESWAM could develop a clearer multi-year strategy, joint commitments and collaborative European projects. His challenge was straightforward: participating cities should eventually be able to demonstrate what their cooperation has actually achieved. This is particularly relevant for sport integrity, where municipalities, clubs and national authorities often operate within separate responsibilities, despite sharing the same ambition to protect participants.
For European municipalities, Malta offers a broader understanding of public responsibility in sport. Building facilities, subsidising participation and supporting clubs remain essential. But public investment also creates an obligation to consider governance, safeguarding, transparency and accountability. A successful sports club is not necessarily a safe one, and a well-used facility does not automatically guarantee a healthy sporting culture.
Sport has an extraordinary ability to bring people together, strengthen communities and create opportunities. Protecting those qualities requires structures that are less visible than a swimming pool or a football pitch, but no less important. Malta's experience reminds us that the future of sport is not only about getting more people involved. It is also about ensuring that everyone can participate in an environment worthy of their trust.
Ryan Borg Director of Strategy, International Relations & Support at the Authority for Integrity in Maltese Sport (AIMS)