President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and First Lady Fazna Ahmed have departed on an official visit to Mauritius.

The President’s Office said that the first couple traveled to the Indian Ocean nation at the invitation of its government.

They are to attend the opening ceremony of the 2019 Indian Ocean Island Games (IOIG) on Friday, in the city of Port Louis, during the trip.

The couple will also attend several sporting events, to encourage and show support to the many Maldivian athletes competing in the games, before concluding the visit.

Maldives is currently working to host the 2023 Indian Ocean Island Games. A high-level delegation, with Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid as the president’s special envoy, traveled on a four-island tour earlier this month, seeking support for the country’s bid to host the games.

As such, Shahid and Sports Minister Ahmed Mahloof traveled to Seychelles, Madagascar, Comoros and Mauritius, and met with the respective government officials and delivered letters from President Solih to their heads of states.

Team Maldives traveled to Maldives early Wednesday morning. The sporting events in which the country is competing are; football, basketball, volleyball, table tennis, athletics, kite surfing, badminton, sailing, swimming and youth camp.

Maldivian athletes have thus far won one gold medal, seven silver and 14 bronze medals at the Indian Ocean Island Games.