This is the MOC’s statement in full:

It is good to mention and remind Mr Grixti that the plan to start the development goes way back to June 2022 in which the previous Malta Table Tennis Association (MTTA) committee presented a package to attract higher level players to Malta in an attempt to bring local talent to a higher level, to the said committee however some members failed to attend to numerous meetings.

This left no option to the previous Committee members but to ask for help from the MOC.

This course of action was necessary as the Malta Table Tennis Association was experiencing significant administrative challenges.

In July 2022, the Maltese Olympic Committee intervened and scheduled two meetings with the full MTTA committee in an effort

to support and stabilise the situation. However, both meetings failed to take place as the same members who had previously failed to attend continued to be absent.

As a result, the MOC had to step in further to ensure continuity and safeguard the interests of the sport and its athletes during this period of uncertainty.

In 2023, the MTTA was being temporarily administered by the MOC in an attempt to keep the sport afloat. At that point the MOC had no option but to focus on the 2023 Games of the Small States of Europe and offer the best support to keep the sport alive.

After the Games, MOC gave the support to all athletes attending the youth championships.

The ones who travelled to the training camp in Germany (to the international academy of which one of the indirectly mentioned athletes was and is in the squad) and to the athletes on the scheme were reimbursed personal travel plans to improve their sport. It is good to mention since Mr Grixti failed to do so, that he is one of the athletes that benefitted from these opportunities for many years.

In its efforts to ensure that athletes are offered the appropriate development opportunities, the MOC revamped its Athlete Development Scheme after GSSE 2023.

The Scheme engages athletes into categories based on their level, and not in a haphazard manner.

Unfortunately, it looks like Mr Grixti still believes that by support he understands only personal funding. Fortunately to develop this scheme, MOC worked with other National Olympic Committees (NOCs) to develop the Athlete Development Pathway. The Pathway

ensures that Financial support together with related services are offered to our top athletes –this includes access to a gym, medical, physiotherapy, coaching schemes etc.

Nonetheless, an athlete needs to show that they deserve to be part of this scheme if not the said taxpayers money are wasted. Something that both MOC and Mr Grixti agree to.

Being a small state, it’s very nice to be the national champion however the weight given to the title is not high.

Competing abroad, more important. Competing abroad in a higher level than Malta is crucial to evaluate the actual competence and level of an athlete.

In 2024, discussions started to find a long-term solution and in fact MOC together with the MTTA set a development squad for our young ones while helping the older athletes to attend

these sessions.

Mr Grixti attended only two sessions from the beginning of March 2025 whilst claiming he is training 18 hours a week. As can be seen in the conditions of selection, the attendance, the technique, the skills and fitness level are factors as well and the MOC needs to evaluate these together with the trajectory for improvement and tactical plan to have positive results.

During this season, Mr Grixti played only in one of the two local ranking tournaments. More importantly, Mr Grixti was also offered twice to represent our nation in approved MOC international competitions for evaluation however he refused to attend to. MOC understands and appreciates that he is a student in his final year of University – and we take this opportunity to publicly wish him best of luck for his exams – however, this does not give an advantageous excuse against the other players who attended training and competitions.

Like everything in life, every person and entity have their priorities.

The MOC accepts that Mr Grixti’s priorities were his studies but amicably Mr Grixti needs to accept that the MOC needs to choose the best team for Malta.

It is advisable for Mr Grixti to make sure not to write unfounded and incorrect information about the MOC and team members/players, just to create hate against Maltese sports and Maltese sportspeople.

Good to mentioned that the players Mr Grixti is trying to attack, have given back to the country. One of them has been residing since 2011 where the player not just represented Malta but assisted and coached athletes from any academy.

One needs to mention that Mr Grixti played a few matches in the Slovakian league thanks to her support.

Another athlete has trained with the national team of Malta for most of the editions of GSSE from 2005 even though she was NOT part of the selected team, who is currently offered training opportunities to female athletes. Another athlete had offered the same to the male

athletes specifically to the squad of GSSE2023 (of which Mr Grixti was part of), free training with his club in another country.

Last but not least, one needs to mention, the family of another athlete has an international academy and a number of domestic athletes have attended training and has always made himself available to welcome any Maltese players.

In fact, one athlete resided for 6 months at this academy last year.

It is very worrying when Mr Grixti feels fit to be part of the team while pointing the faults that he assumes and invents on the rest of squad whilst ill-mouthing them.

One must point out that the athletes he shared the same uniform with in 2023 are the same ones who offered him and other athletes a number of opportunities. Failing to be part of a squad at one’s own discretion is not accepted.

Team Malta needs to be united in every match to be successful.

May Mr Grixti be reminded that during last edition when held in Malta, Mr Grixti opted to abandon the team halfway with the excuse to study instead of cheering and supporting the team to victory.

The world of sports changed and keeping the mentality of “we are small state and I am the national champion” does not fit in the MOC’s vision.

Whilst it is an honour to be the national champion however the MOC is setting a higher standard.

The MOC has made its position clear about this matter, as per previous email correspondence and hence now considers it as a closed case.