Minister of Youth, Sports and Community Empowerment Abdullah Rafiu has said that the aim is to hold a regional sports tournament in the Maldives within the next 10 years, and that this year’s Commonwealth Beach Handball Tournament is a door that opens to pave the way for it. The Minister said this at a ceremony held last night at Henveiru Bolgey to hand over jerseys to the national team competing for the first time in the 10th Beach Handball Asian Championship to be held in Oman this month.
The Minister said that from the moment it was decided to hold the Commonwealth Beach Handball Tournament in the Maldives, he shared that message with President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, and the President assured that the government would do everything possible to support it. The Minister also said that a team comprising of the Handball Association, the Mayor and members of Kulhudhuffushi City Council, the parliamentary members of that constituency, the Maldives Olympic Committee and officials from the Ministry are currently discussing arrangements related to the tournament.
The Minister said that holding such a tournament in the Maldives would be a great opportunity to introduce the concept of visitor economy and promote sports tourism in the Maldives. The Minister also said that by hosting the Commonwealth Handball Tournament, many countries will gain confidence that the Maldives is a country capable of hosting many sports events. The Minister said that many countries will gain confidence that the Maldives is a country that can host many sports, and that everyone is proud to be able to play on the beaches of the Maldives.”
