The Maldivian government is carrying out more than 800 sports infrastructure projects this year as part of a major programme to expand and improve sports facilities across the country, the Ministry of Sports Youth and Empowerment, has announced.
Speaking at the Ahaa Forum, Minister of Sports Abdullah Raafiu said the ministry was undertaking an unprecedented number of projects, with many nearing completion.
According to Raafiu, approximately 130 projects have been completed since President Dr Mohamed Muizzu’s administration took office, with the facilities now being used by residents across the islands. These include football grounds, fitness and recreational centres, outdoor gyms, and courts and fields for various sports.
The minister added that practical work has yet to begin on 31 percent of the projects. However, he said completing the projects remains a government priority.
Expanding access to sports facilities across the Maldives, regardless of an island’s population or size, is a key objective of the government’s programme. Plans include establishing fitness and recreational centres on every inhabited island to make sports and exercise facilities more accessible to residents.
The government is also working to broaden the range of sports available in the country, including disciplines for which adequate facilities have yet to be established. Planned developments, in collaboration with relevant stakeholders, include a racing track, a dedicated arena for shooting sports, and an Olympic-standard diving pool.
