Malta’s gym-loving Prime Minister Robert Abela has officially launched a new initiative giving young people aged 18 to 20 a free six-month gym membership — and it’s already proving a hit.
The Youth Fitness Support Scheme, announced in last October’s budget and formally unveiled at the Mediterranean College of Sport in Birkirkara, offers thousands of young Maltese adults the chance to work out for free in one of 64 participating gyms across the islands, Times Malta reports.
Young people born between 2005 and 2007 can apply through youthfitness.gov.mt, where they’ll be able to register and choose a gym under the €2 million government-backed initiative.
Abela — who’s no stranger to the gym himself — told reporters ahead of the launch: “We want to bring about a change in mentality – in how we view physical activity from an early age. We want to promote physical activity as part of our lifestyle. Physical activity is not only for professional athletes, but for the wider population as well.”
Abela said of the launch on Instagram: “Kick-off with your fitness journey and build strong habits! As from today, if you were born between 2005 and 2007, you’re eligible for a free 6-month gym membership, fully covered by the Government.”
The event had a distinctly fitness-first feel, with workout sessions, competitions, and appearances by international fitness personalities Alex Eubank and Greg Doucette, both well-known in the bodybuilding and social media scene.
Sports Minister Clifton Grima joined Abela at the launch, emphasising that the measure “demonstrates how investing in sport and youth can unite the community around a healthy and positive lifestyle.” He added that the government is “investing in a new mindset through this scheme, giving young people the encouragement they need to choose a more active and balanced life, thereby building a healthier future for the nation.”
At the end of August, The Malta Independent reports that more than 6,000 young people have already signed up — roughly half of all Maltese youths eligible for the programme, according to Education Ministry figures reported by The Malta Independent. Around 12,000 people in total qualify, meaning the initiative has already reached a significant portion of its target group.
The response reflects both the popularity of the offer and Malta’s growing emphasis on wellness among younger generations. The scheme is still open, with all 64 participating gyms continuing to take applications.
But Abela’s push for youth fitness isn’t just political — it’s personal. Before his rise through the Labour Party and eventual landslide leadership victory in 2020, Abela was flexing on a very different stage.
Back in the late 1990s, he was an active competitive bodybuilder, appearing in ultra-competitive national contests. In one now-viral photo from the era, the future Prime Minister can be seen in peak physical condition, showing off a shredded physique as he competes alongside four other athletes.
“Stepping away from partisan politics, we can say that for the first time in this country’s history we have a competitive bodybuilder as a Prime Minister. Best wishes Dr Robert Abela,” said Ralph Decelis, President of the Malta Federation of Bodybuilding & Fitness, per Lovin Malta.
Now, that same passion for fitness seems to be shaping his leadership style. Abela’s message — that physical activity should be a normal part of life, not just something for elite athletes — is one that resonates with both his government’s priorities and his personal journey from the stage to the State.
Even in a more recent Instagram post, the leader proudly wrote: “Our students and educators at the National School of Sport are proof that our country is capable of producing high-level athletes just like any other nation.”
With more than half of eligible young people already on board and gyms across Malta buzzing with new members, the former bodybuilder’s latest flex might just be his most impactful yet.
Featured Image Credit: Instagram/@robertabela.mt
