Maldives national volleyball team is to head to Europe for training, in July.

The team is to travel to Serbia from 3-14 July, ahead of the 2019 Indian Ocean Island Games.

Sports Minister Ahmed Mahloof announced this via Twitter on Monday, emphasizing that this “will be the first time one of [Maldives’] national teams undertake training in Europe.”

The decision was reached at a meeting between the sports minister and his Serbian counterpart, Vanja Udovičić on Monday.

He said that the minister had assured Serbia’s support to develop sports in Maldives ‘especially volleyball, water polo and basketball.

“He will visit Maldives soon and sign an MoU to assist us in the development of youth and sports.”

The sports minister is currently in Serbia following an official invitation from its deputy prime minister.

He traveled there after attending the World Conference of Ministers Responsible for Youth 2019 and Youth Forum in Lisbon, Portugal.

The 2019 Indian Ocean Island Games will take place in Mauritius, from July 19-28.