Minister says over 800 sports projects underway this year, a record

The Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Sports and Fitness is conducting over 800 projects this year, a record in the ministry's history, Minister Abdulla Rafiu has said. Speaking during an open forum where the public can ask questions directly to ministers, Rafiu highlighted that more than 800 projects are currently being carried out under the ministry's purview this year. He noted that this is the highest number of projects ever undertaken by the ministry in a single year and that many of them are nearing completion. Since the current government took office, 130 projects have been started and fully completed under the ministry, Rafiu said. These completed facilities are now being used by the public in various islands. Ongoing projects include football fields, fitness and recreation centers, outdoor gyms, and various sports grounds and courts. However, physical work has not yet begun on 31 percent of the projects, the minister acknowledged. The government is also working with various partners to establish facilities for different sports, including a racing track, a shooting range, and an Olympic-standard swimming pool. Rafiu expressed confidence that all projects under the ministry would be completed within this term. Under the government's sports policy, the ministry is working to establish fitness and recreation centers in all inhabited islands, regardless of size, and to provide facilities for many sports that have been neglected.