Minister at the President’s Office, Hon. Mohamed Hussain Shareef has met with Mr. Christophe De Kepper, Director General of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Minister Mohamed Hussain Shareef met with the Director General of IOC as a special envoy of President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom. The meeting was held on Thursday at the IOC headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland.
Speaking at the meeting, Mr. De Kepper said that the main purpose of the meeting was to seek the support of the Maldivian Government to the recently adopted UN resolution, "Sports as a Mean to Promote Education, Development, Health & Peace". Speaking in this regard, Mr. De Kepper highlighted the initiative of the OIC to include a sports related milestone to the Sustainable Developmental Goals (SDG) of the UN. Speaking further, Mr. De Kepper said that the recent Olympic committee meeting hosted by the Government of Maldives, was representative of the support and involvement of the Maldives in IOC.
Underscoring the high priority attached by the Government to empower youth and promote sports and physical development, Minister Hussain Shareef described sports as a developmental tool to promote peace and strengthen social ties. Continuing on, the Minister expressed the willingness of the Government of the Maldives, as the chair of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS).
Noting that this year marked the 50th anniversary of the Maldives’ Independence, Minister Hussain Shareef briefed the IOC Director General on the programmes to be carried out to celebrate the golden jubilee year. Continuing in this regard, Minister expressed assurance that the Maldives will Co-sponsor any motion to include sports among SDG’s and lobby among the UN member states on behalf of IOC, in this endeavor.
Minister Mohamed Hussain Shareef highlighted that the Government has now submitted a Sports Bill to the People’s Majlis. In this regard, he said that the bill once ratified by the People’s Majlis, would facilitate the implementation of the Government’s sports manifesto, and regulations needed to develop competitive sports.
Mr. De Kepper applauded the Government on the accomplishment and said that it supports the UN resolution to recognize the autonomy of sports.
During the meeting, Minister Mohamed Hussain Shareef, on behalf of President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom, extended an invitation to President of IOC, Mr. Thomas Bach to visit the Maldives.