Eight sporting federations are set to be given an exemption by the Superintendent for Health from the latest COVID-19 restrictions, the Times of Malta can reveal.
Last week, the Times of Malta had revealed that over 20 governing bodies had submitted their application so that their national teams will be given an exemption by Charmaine Gauci from the latest sporting restrictions so that their elite athletes will be able to step up their preparations for their major appointments in the coming weeks.
In fact, the majority of these federations will be represented by athletes in World Championships, European Championships and Olympic Games qualifiers in the coming weeks.
After a thorough evaluation, the Public Health Authorities have decided to give exemption to eight federations, namely the Aquatic Sports Association of Malta, the Malta Judo Federation, the Malta Tennis Federation, the Malta Amateur Athletics Association, the Malta Weightlifting Federation, the Malta Cricket Association and Malta Rugby Football Union.
The Aquatic Sports Association have applied to get an exemption for their junior national teams, both men and women, who will be taking part in the European Championships.
Added to that the ASA is also scheduled to field a team in the continental championships in the Artistic Synchronised Swimming.
The Malta Basketball Association are expected to be given the green light so that their senior national teams can prepare for the FIBA Championships this summer.
The Malta Tennis Federation will be given permission for its national teams, men and women, to prepare for the upcoming Davis Cup and Billie Jean Cup, formerly the Fed Cup, later on this year.
The Malta Amateur Athletics Association will be able to let her national team athletes prepare for the European Team Championships and the Olympic Games.
On the other hand, Maltese judokas will have their restrictions eased.
In fact, as of Monday they will be able to train in groups of five with no contact sessions, and then contact will be permitted two weeks before the competitions.
At the moment, the national team will be competing in the Grand Slam event in Turkey next week before then representing the country in the European Championships next month.
The Malta Weightlifting Association have also been granted the exemptions as next week Tenishia Thornton and Yazmin Zammit Stevens will compete at the European Championships in Russia while Thornton will also compete in the World Youth Championships next month.
On the other hand, the MRFU are planning to send their Sevens teams in the European Championships and have been given the green light to start their preparations with a set protocol.
Finally, the Malta Cricket Association will be able to prepare its team for the European Championship qualifiers next month.
