Gov't to sign major project to establish sports facilities nationwide

Spokesperson of the President’s Office, Mabrook Azeez has revealed that a "major" contract will be signed on Thursday in order to establish sports facilities in the Maldives.

According to the government, this year is expected to be a turning point for the field of sports. They also informed that new sports facilities are to be established within the coming year.

In the press conference held on Wednesday, Mabrook stated that a major agreement will be signed on Thursday in relation to establishing sports facilities in the Maldives. Thereby, under this arrangement, in addition to setting up sports equipment in Atolls, the Male’ National Football Stadium, National Volleyball Court, Basketball Court and Table Tennis Hall are to be developed. Furthermore, a synthetic track and an indoor sports complex are to be built in some Atolls.

The Sports Ministry had acquired authorization to start the renovation of the National Stadium last year, but was unable to do so because of the pandemic. However, Minister of Youth, Sports and Community Empowerment, Ahmed Mahloof had previously expressed hope that they would be able to start renovations this year.

Furthermore, as work is underway to initiate the construction of a National Volleyball Court and Basketball Court, players have been complaining about the absence of an indoor court for the two sports. Thereby, in an interview he gave last year, Mahloof stated that he hopes that the establishment of these two courts will begin this year.

While a lot of projects are underway in the Maldives in the field of sports, the works of the Ekuveni Running Track being transformed into a synthetic track, the development of the swimming track and the Hulhumalé Sports Complex are to be recognized. Furthermore, as the incumbent President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih’s government is working to establish more sports facilities, it is to be noted that the current administration has concluded most projects in the field of sports.