Gozo’s first Sports and Aquatic Pavilion opens

Prime Minister Robert Abela inaugurated the new Sports and Aquatic Pavilion on Wednesday in Rabat, Gozo.

The pavilion will provide high-quality indoor sports and aquatic facilities for local, national, and international use. Strategically located in the heart of Victoria, the complex includes a wide range of facilities, from an Olympic-sized pool to specialised areas for different sporting disciplines and other physical activities.

Following a beautiful spectacle of synchronised dancing during the inauguration, Abela said that with the completion of this project, Gozo has opened its doors to international sporting events. He added that this project will bring additional value to the island of Gozo.

Abela said that this is one of a series of projects transforming Gozo and strengthening the community and social fabric that sustains the island’s unique identity as an island of villages. 

He noted: “This is the type of investment which forms the basis of the Regional Strategy for Gozo, a strategy that Government has launched and is now implementing.”

The Prime Minister underlined government’s ongoing commitment to invest in Gozo, stressing that the island is central to national vision of creating new prosperity. He said that in this way Gozo will become the engine of the country's new prosperity. Dr Abela highlighted several quality projects that are currently underway, including the construction of a new primary school in Rabat, ongoing works on the Rabat-Marsalforn road, and the progress made on the Gozo Museum project.

Abela also announced that government is preparing to launch a number of additional initiatives under the Urban Sustainable Development Fund, through which Gozo will benefit from an investment of €60 million. He explained that, “This will translate into new green urban spaces, including an underground car park in the centre of Rabat and the extension of Villa Rundle Gardens.”

Minister for Gozo Clint Camilleri also addressed the inauguration, describing the day as “a historic moment for the island with the opening of the Sports and Aquatic Pavilion”. He said that this is the first project of its kind in Gozo, featuring not only the island’s first Olympic-sized pool but also a wide range of international- standard sports facilities under one roof. Minister Camilleri explained that the pavilion embodies a clear and concrete vision for the development of sport in Gozo.

“In fact, we are placing Gozo on the European map as a sports destination, offering state-of-the-art facilities built to international standards. For many years, this was only a promise on paper, but today it has become a reality thanks to the Government that delivers on its commitments,” said Camilleri. 

He outlined the extensive work carried out to realise this project, adding that the pavilion will be crucial not only for the advancement of sport on the island but also for the growth of sports tourism, the hosting of international competitions, and the creation of new opportunities for Gozitan athletes of all ages. 

Beyond swimming, the pavilion also caters for multiple disciplines including basketball, volleyball, netball, badminton, handball, padel, and squash. The complex further includes a dedicated hall for gymnastics, dance, table tennis, and martial arts.

Key Features of the Gozo Album Include:

Photo Book: A collection logically structured by location, decade, and theme, making it easy to find specific content.

Then & Now: A fascinating feature that allows direct visual comparisons between historical and contemporary images of iconic places, highlighting the evolution of the Gozitan landscape.

Photographers Page: A tribute to several historic photographers who dedicated their lives to capturing moments from the past, including Michele Farrugia (known as ‘il-Badiku’), Richard Ellis, Salvatore Lorenzo Cassar, and Guido Stilon.

Timeline Page: A chronological account of Gozo’s visual history. Notable examples include photos of the Dwejra Window, with the earliest dated 1890 and another taken on 8 March 2017, the tragic day it collapsed.

1943 Aerial Photographs: Rare images of Gozo during World War II, offering a unique historical perspective.

Detailed Photo Information: Every photo in the collection includes rich details such as dates, the photographer’s name, and precise locations, enabling in-depth exploration.

The Gozo Album is already being integrated with all Gozo Local Councils through an active widget system on their official websites, each featuring pages dedicated to the visual heritage of their respective localities. Additionally, the Ministry will soon launch a WordPress plugin, making it easy to integrate the archive into websites run by schools, NGOs, and tourism organizations, thereby broadening its reach.

This project is envisioned as a living archive, one that will continue to grow through the contributions of the Gozitan community and beyond.