First couple celebrates success of Maldivian athletes at Special Olympics World Games

The first couple has celebrated the success of the Maldivian athletes on their remarkable success at the Special Olympics World Games.

On Sunday, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and First Lady Fazna Ahmed officially welcomed the team back at a ceremony held at the President’s Office.

At the meeting held to officially welcome the team back home, President Solih and FL Fazna congratulated them as well as their parents on the remarkable success at the Special Olympics World Games 2023.

Acknowledging the achievement of the athletes in the major international competition, the president expressed gratitude to everyone who contributed to the victory, especially Special Olympics Maldives and the Ministry of Youth, Sports, and Community Empowerment.

Shedding light on the administration's policy on promoting inclusivity, the Maldivian leader stated that his administration established the Special Olympics Maldives in a bid to provide opportunities for people with special needs to participate in sports.

Further, the president reaffirmed his administration's unceasing support to provide facilities for persons with disabilities, in the sports sector.

Special Olympics Maldives was made an official association during the incumbent administration.

Since then, the country has competed in a number of tournaments with special focus on Special Olympics, and the team has observed complete success during this year’s games.

As such, Maldives bagged two gold and one bronze medal at the games. The Maldives’ team competed in Badminton and athletics during this year’s tournament, with Aishath Laika Hussain bagging gold in the Level B 100-meter run.

Maniya Adam bagged gold in Badminton, with Zaana Ali Shareef having won bronze in the 200-meter run.

Alongside the three athletes who brought home medals from the Special Olympics World Games in Germany, other athletes representing Maldives at the games include Hussain Sujoodh Naashid, Ibrahim Humaid Mohamed and Mohamed Raaif Shareef.

The athletics team was coached by Aishath Mauva and Ahmed Nizam, with Ali Sharmeel and Aishath Afnan Rasheed having coached the Badminton team.

The Special Olympics World Games 2023 took place in Berlin, Germany, from June 17 – 25.

This year’s games were the globe’s largest inclusive sports event, featuring over 6,500 athletes from across the globe competing in 26 sports.