200 new positions for sports councilors have been established by the Civil Service Commission, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has said.

President Solih said at the People’s Majlis’ inaugural sitting on Thursday that his administration wishes to encourage an active and healthy lifestyle.

Solih said at Thursday’s inaugural sitting that it is important that the next generation of Maldivians are healthy, with athletes who potentially transform different sports that the country engages in.

And in order to bolster local sports, Solih said that his government has decided to give an allowance of MVR 500,000 to each registered sports association.

Solih also said that his government will be combatting disparities in pay between male and female athletes, by providing equal allowances and wage.

The government is also working to develop an Olympic-sized swimming pool in the Maldives, a project that is estimated to cost MVR 18 million.