First Lady Sajidha Mohamed has officially inaugurated the M. Mulaku Fitness and Recreation Centre and toured the facility.
The establishment of fitness and recreation centres and outdoor gyms on every inhabited island is among the pledges of President Dr Mohamed Muizzu. These centres are intended to provide indoor sports facilities, indoor games, aerobics spaces and gyms to encourage healthier lifestyles and greater community participation in physical activity.
The ceremony was attended by the Minister of Youth Empowerment, Sports and Fitness Abdulla Rafiu, the Minister of Health, Family and Welfare Geela Ali, and local council officials.
Although the foundation stone for the project was laid in 2018, the development had faced years of delays despite being awarded to multiple contractors. The project has been a highly anticipated by the island’s youth and residents.
Under President Dr Mohamed Muizzu’s administration, the project was handed to the Road Development Corporation (RDC) and has now been completed. Facilities at the centre include an indoor gym, two badminton courts, two volleyball courts, billiards and table tennis, carrom, restrooms, and an office room.
Speaking at the ceremony, Sports Minister Rafiu said the centre will help identify and develop talented athletes from the atolls, enabling island athletes to represent the Maldives in national teams and compete internationally. He said sports and recreational facilities encourage greater physical activity among young people, as well as strengthen community ties and promote friendship through sport.
The minister further said increased physical activity due to the establishment of sports centres can help reduce non-communicable diseases (NCDs).