Time for an Athletics Hall of Fame

My friend Charles Cioffi recently sent me the following message that I thought best to share with the local running community since I haven't heard about it elsewhere.

"Here is a vintage photo I recently uncovered of myself with Paul Vella, a fellow sportsman who died last week. He was one of the four members of my running team at the Silesians Sports Club. The British services had nicknamed us "The Black Devils" because we consistently won all the races.

In this 1964 photo Paul is passing to me the Sportsman of the Year award - Paul had the honour of that title in 1963."

Naturally, condolences go to Paul Vella's family.

That the death of an athlete who obviously achieved so much could pass by un-noticed got me thinking on how little regard there is for athletes' past achievements. The sad truth is that once their athletic career is over, most athletes are quickly forgotten unless they move into coaching or administration.

Clearly that shouldn't be the case. A sport's history is just as important as its present. It is what determines its culture, a source for motivation and provides important lessons on what should be avoided or repeated.

This isn't happening in Malta. People like Paul Vella and Charles Cioffi have been forgotten by all except a few. Even the achievements of latter day athletes like the great Gerald Degaetano have slipped away from people's memories. There is nothing at the Marsa track, or in the MAAA's offices, that reminds people of these great athletes.

When Darren GIlford, one of the most succesful atheltes in recent years and the holder of a handful of national records, decide to retire at the end of last year, the passed by virtually un-noticed. Of course, this could have been the athlete's own choice but my view is that something should have been to celebrate his career and what he has done for the sport.

Which is why setting up a Hall of Fame for Maltese atheltics is of utmost importance. Not nly that, there has to be some highly visible memorial - preferabbly at the Marsa track - where the inductees of this Hall of Fame are named.

It would show the new generations of what those who came before them achieved as well as serving as added motivation for them to aim at one day being included in such a Hall of Fame. Of course, it would also get athletics some much needed publicity as it celebrates the success of its own athletes.

Most improtantly of all, it would ensure that those who have worked at getting athletics where it is today aren't forgotten.

"A nation which has forgotten the quality of courage which in the past has been brought to public life is not as likely to insist upon or regard that quality in its chosen leaders today." Euripides

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