Dhiraagu partners with Special Olympics Maldives to launch inclusive sports programme
Dhiraagu has announced a strategic partnership with Special Olympics Maldives to launch a regional sports development programme designed to empower children and young people with intellectual disabilities through inclusive sport, structured training and community engagement. Special Olympics International is a global movement committed to improving lives through sport, with Special Olympics Maldives serving as its national affiliate.
The first regional programme will be introduced in G.Dh. Thinadhoo and will run for six months. The initiative aims to support up to 60 athletes and their families through weekly training sessions delivered under the Special Olympics Fit5 curriculum. This community-based, holistic framework focuses on physical fitness, nutrition, hydration, adaptive sports training and active family involvement, while also contributing to the development of local coaches and volunteers to ensure long-term sustainability.
Ibrahim Rameez, Chairperson of Special Olympics Maldives, stated: “The Dhiraagu Special Sports Festival has played an important role in promoting inclusion and equality in sport. Today, Maldivian athletes with disabilities proudly represent the nation on major international stages. Initiatives such as the Dhiraagu Special Sports Festival have helped broaden inclusive sporting pathways, and we believe our partnership with Dhiraagu on this new programme in G.Dh. Thinadhoo will further strengthen and extend these efforts nationwide.”
Mirshan Hassan, Director of Brand & Marketing Communications at Dhiraagu, said: “Building on our longstanding commitment to inclusive sport, this programme reflects our belief that every child deserves access to opportunities that support their development and wellbeing. By working closely with Special Olympics Maldives, we aim to support sustainable programmes that empower communities and reinforce advocacy for inclusion.”
Dhiraagu has championed inclusion in sport through the Dhiraagu Special Sports Festival in Malé for more than eight years. The company remains committed to initiatives that generate meaningful social impact, promote inclusion and empower individuals across the Maldives as part of its broader mission to connect and uplift communities nationwide.
