IOC TROPHY ‘SPORT AND ART’ AWARDED TO PAUL ZAMMIT CUTAJAR

One of the Malta Football Association’s photographers, Paul Zammit Cutajar, has recently been awarded the International Olympic Committee Trophy ‘Sport and Art’ for 2014. This prestigious prize was a deserved reward for Zammit Cutajar for his ability to marry art with sport through his photographic talent and his dedication to the spirit of Olympism.  The Malta Olympic Committee recognises the man as an artist and creator, qualities which helped him promote further the Olympic Movement.   Paul turned professional in September 2007 when he first covered the remarkable football match between Malta and Turkey which ended in a draw. Meanwhile he was engaged in several international events, covering the 2010 Youth Olympic Games in Singapore, the 2012 Games of the Small States of Europe (GSSE) and this year’s Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. He continued to follow sport and over a span of 7 years he covered a plethora of global and European events, producing photographs in his inimitable style. These included photos of the FIFA World Cups 2010 and 2014, FINA World Swimming Championships between 2009 and 2013, FINA Waterpolo Qualifying matches between 2009 and 2014, UEFA Champions League finals during the same period, UEFA Europa League final 2013 and International Rugby Union (IRB) World Cup in 2011. Paul is often engaged at various domestic and international multi-discipline sports venues, in the process dedicating himself at his own expense to promoting Maltese male and female athletes through his exquisite photography. He travels with the Malta national football team to produce work which shows his eye for detail in his action photos. Commenting on his work he dismisses that it is an easy and glamorous experience. ‘It may look that way but it’s very far from the truth. Taking the FIFA World Cup in Brazil, for example, I caught 19 flights to cover 16 matches over a period of 30 days. Preparing for a match takes a good 3 hours. Sleep was at a premium, only managing to grab a few hours of rest in a hotel and on a plane or bus. ‘One has to be alert and ready to create pictures that go out around the world. My colleagues here in Malta and abroad spend many hours to deliver stunning pictures. Stress levels run high to meet deadlines. Indeed, it’s far from an easy job.’  Why do I do this? Because it’s in my DNA and cannot see myself doing anything else,’ Paul stresses. His work, published both in Malta and internationally, has earned him innumerable awards to which he remarks that these are ‘gratifying and show appreciation of my work, and in reality this encourages me to improve as there is much more to learn.’  Finally, Paul dedicated the IOC Trophy ‘Sport and Art’ 2014 to the ‘most wonderful man in my life. He was my guide, my mentor, my protector, my friend, with whom I spent most of my life. But most of all he was a loving father anybody would have ever wished to have.’  Very significant words which show the strong and affectionate ties Paul had with his father.