Award of the George Cross to Malta This medal is awarded only for acts of the greatest heroism or the most conspicuous courage in circumstances of extreme danger. One of only two collective awards of the George Cross was the award to Malta. This award was made by King George VI by a letter in his own hand: The Governor Malta To honour her brave people I award the George Cross to the Island Fortress of Malta to bear witness to a heroism and devotion that will long be famous in history. George R.I. April 15th 1942 Lieutenant-General Sir William Dobbie answered: By God's help Malta will
Cross-country cycling Cross-country cycling Cross-country (XC) cycling is a discipline of mountain biking. Cross-country cycling became an Olympic sport in 1996 and is the only form of mountain biking practiced at the Olympics. Cross-country cycling is defined by the terrain on which it is performed. XC courses and trails consist of a mix of rough forest paths and singletrack (also referred to as doubletrack depending on width), smooth fireroads, and even paved paths connecting other trails. Until recently cross-country trails were deemed "easy" or "intermediate", due to the old school concept that this discipline of mountain biking relies more on physical prowess