The Government and the Gozo Football Association signed a €500,000 agreement thanks to which works at the Gozo Stadium in view of the UEFA Under-17 Championships and works at various football grounds around Gozo will be completed. The agreement was signed by Parliamentary Secretary for Research, Innovation, Youth and Sport Stefan Buontempo and GFA President Alvin Grech.

Parliamentary Secretary Stefan Buontempo said this was not only the fulfilment of another promise of the ELectoral Manifesto but it was also the largest investment in sport in Gozo. He said this followed the extension of the scheme which allowed Gozitan athletes and clubs to apply for refund of costs involved in travelling to Malta to participate in competitions.

Dr Buontempo reiterated that the Government is carrying out his promise to make sure there is no difference between the two islands as far as facilities and sports opportunities are concerned.
 
Parliamentary Secretary Buontempo said that with this investment, the Gozitan clubs will be able to attract foreign clubs for training camps as these facilities will be able to attract sports tourism, therefore creating more economic activity. At the same time, Gozitan clubs will be more sustainable.
 
Minister for Gozo Anton Refalo stressed how thanks to this agreement Gozitan clubs will benefit from the sum of € 500,000 to improve the infrastructure of football grounds on the island. He said that now every club and nursery in Gozo will have adequate training facilities. Baseball, rugby and athletics will also benefit from this initiative as they also make use of these facilities for their training.

Refalo and Buontempo stressed that good facilities along with effective educational campaign is the formula to overcome the problem of obesity. They also said that although this investment is aimed to offer the best facilities to those that already practicing the sport, it will also encourage more children and youths to start practicing sport.