Special Olympics Malta athletes Rodney Gauci and Yowanna Vassallo were among the winners at the recent Sport Malta Awards/Ghazliet Sportivi Nazzjonali 2017. These annual awards, organised by the Malta Sports Journalists Association (MSJA) and Sport Malta, honour Malta’s leading athletes, officials and teams.
For over a decade, Special Olympics Malta athletes have held the same platform as other leading athletes at the awards in recognition of what they achieve both on the national and international stages.
Joining award-winners Rodney, a football player, and Yowanna, a bocce player, at the ceremony were many special guests including representatives of the Government and opposition, Sport Malta, AIPS Europe and AIPS, the Organizing Committee and MSJA. Also present were Italian Rio2016 paralympic athlete, Giusy Versace, and Director of Special Olympics Malta, Anna Calleja. Anna is a former winner of these awards—in 1981 she received the award for Woman Athlete of the Year!