President: Next year’s budget to include allocation to train athletes

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu states next year’s budget will include an allocation to facilitate additional training opportunities for athletes as part of the government’s priority to develop the sports sector.

He made the remark while speaking at the Flag Bearer Awarding Ceremony for Team Maldives at the Paris 2024 Olympics’ opening ceremony.

Speaking at the ceremony, the President reiterated the government’s policy is to promote sports in the Maldives to create more opportunities for athletes to compete in a variety of sports in the future in addition to the four sports in which Maldivian athletes are competing in this year’s Olympics.

He also said the government is dedicated to enhancing training and creating more opportunities for athletes which in turn will allow more athletes to participate in regional and international competitions like the Olympics.

In this regard, President Muizzu announced the government’s plans to extensively support the training and development of athletes by providing opportunities for training abroad by making allocations in next year’s budget.

He expressed hope for the sports sector to be transformed to an extent never seen before via these efforts.

Speaking further, President Muizzu appealed to the athletes competing in the Olympics to bring the best name possible to the Maldives. 

The two athletes who will bear the Maldivian flag at the Olympics’ opening ceremony were handed over the flags at Sunday’s ceremony. They are Fathimath Dheema Ali and Ibadh Adam.

Five athletes will represent the Maldives in four sports this year marking the highest level of participation for the country. They are:

• Fathimath Dheema Ali, Table Tennis
• Ibadh Adam, Athletics
• Aishath Ulya Shaiq, Swimming
• Mohamed Aan Hussain, Swimming
• Fathimath Nabaha (Naba), Badminton

Dheema is the first athlete from the Maldives to qualify for the Olympics after winning in the regional qualifiers.