Maldives lobbies support for bid to host Indian Ocean Island Games

Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid has been touring Seychelles, Mauritius and Comoros to seek support for the Maldives’ bid to host the Indian Ocean Island Games in 2023.

Accompanied by Sports Minister Ahmed Mahloof, Shahid is currently visiting Comoros as a special envoy of President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.

At a meeting held in Moroni on Tuesday, Shahid met with the Comoros President Azali Assoumani and presented a letter from President Solih. He also met with Comorian counterpart El-Almine Souef and as well as Ladenti Houmadi, minister of youth, employment, occupational integration, culture and sports of Comoros. 

On Monday, Shahid met the Prime Minister of Mauritius Pravind Jugnauth and presented a letter from the Maldives president. 

The Maldives has already secured the support of Seychelles for the bid to host IOIG 2023.

The IOIG is held once every four years with athletes from the Indian Ocean island nations. It was established by the International Olympic Committee in 1977. 

Along with the Maldives, Madagascar and Comoros are also interested in hosting the IOIG in 2023.

A delegation from the IOIG council has visited the countries vying to host the IOIG 2023 to inspect existing facilities and capacity to host the games. 

At a press conference concluding council’s visit to the Maldives, Antonio Gopal, president of the IOIG council, said he was impressed by the level of enthusiasm and commitment shown by the Maldives. 

Sports Minister Mahoof assured that was “committed and ready” and suggested that it “the best ever IOIG to be held.”

The winner of the bid will be announced towards the end of the IOIG 2019 in Mauritius. 

The two Maldivian ministers will be attending the opening ceremony of IOIG 2019 on Friday. 

Honoured to call on H.E. Azali Assoumani President of #Comoros as Special Envoy of President @ibusolih to deliver a letter regarding #Maldives bid to host #IOIG2023. Brotherly relations between our two countries will grow from strength to strength. @Azali_officiel pic.twitter.com/Qn9o11bepA

— Abdulla Shahid 🎈 (@abdulla_shahid) July 16, 2019