Aftrer nearly five decades of being active and present in the sporting community, Birkirkara St Joseph Sports Club has announced that its dissolution and the cessation of its operations.

Throughout its journey, the club organised multisport events, participated in local and foreign events and fostered the development of various athletes.

“In its long history, the club has been a pioneer in open water swimming in Malta and a long-standing organiser of triathlon races. This includes national championships and qualifying events for international competitions,” the club said in a statement.

Nonetheless, the club remarked that changes in the sporting landscape and increased administrative requirements have made it increasingly challenging to maintain operations “at the highest standards it aimed to uphold.”

President Raymond Grech noted that while good governance is essential, the growing bureaucratic demands on voluntary organisations “stretched the club’s resources.”

“Additionally, the expanding calendar of sporting events, both locally and internationally, has contributed to increased competition for participation and support. One has to bear in mind the organisational wing of the club, with its logistical and marshalling sections, which has maintained an average of 20 annual events during the past 25 years,” Mr Grech continued.

Despite the heartache of shutting down, the club looks back with pride on its achievements and a sense of community it has built and fostered over the years.

Secretary General Euchar Camilleri remarked that the club is confident that its contribution to the development of sport in Malta, as well as its role in bringing people together, “will remain a lasting legacy.”

In his concluding remarks, Mr Grech thanked the relevant national federations, government entities, sponsors, volunteers, committee members, athletes and supporters who have been part of the club’s journey.

“We are grateful to everyone who has contributed to our success over the years and hope the positive impact of the club will continue to be felt in Malta’s sporting community,” he concluded.

Many were saddened by the news of the closure, commenting on how unfortunate the circumstances are. Athlete Fabio Spiteri shared that it’s a pity to see “such a strong club, when it comes to running, biking, swimming and triathlons, dissolve like that.”

“The responsibility falls on MTF and present clubs to pull one rope together and come up with a calendar for adults and, most importantly, for the upcoming years. The sport of Triathlon will never fade away,” he said. 

Others commented that the government agency AIMS is putting too much pressure on small clubs that are run by volunteers for the love of sport.

“It’s a good initiative to safeguard everyone and everything from bad things, mainly sports betting, money laundering and doping. But If one considers the paperwork required, deadlines and penalties, it’s a nightmare,” another wrote.