Joe Micallef accepts invitation to join SportMalta Charity Marathon organising committee

Joe Micallef has accepted Mark Cutajar’s invitation to join the organising team of the SportMalta Charity Marathon, the Times of Malta can reveal.

Earlier this month, Micallef was in the news after he had announced as chairman of the organising committee of the Malta Marathon that this year’s event was set to be cancelled due to a clash in the route with Transport Malta.

Since then, Transport Malta and SportMalta set the wheel in motion to try and host the marathon despite being just over two weeks away from the event.

On Thursday, Cutajar, the SportMalta CEO addressed a news conference along with Transport Malta CEO Joseph Bugeja to give details of the newly-launched race that will see participants take part in the marathon and half-marathon on March 6.

During the press conference, Cutajar had made an appeal to Micallef, who for several years has organised the popular Malta Marathon, to join the newly-formed organising committee, formed by officials who have experience in setting up mass events in athletics, triathlon, and cycling.

“In the same way that we welcomed clubs and associations to help us in the organisation of the race, everyone who is ready to give a helping hand in the preparations is more than welcome,” Cutajar said.

“I still have a very good relationship with Joe Micallef and I have already offered him to come on board and organise the race with the minimal route changes approved by Transport Malta and with the support of all workers of SportMalta.”

The appeal seems to have pushed Micallef to have a change of heart as on Friday he held a meeting with Cutajar and an agreement was reached that will see him take a key role in the organisation of next month’s Marathon.