Telecommunications giant Dhiraagu, on Wednesday, hosted the 9th installment of its 'Special Sports Festival 2019' at the Henveiru Stadium in capital city Male'.
According to Dhiraagu, the annual festival acts as a platform to expose children with disabilities to the world of sports, increase collaborations between institutions, and raise awareness for people with special needs.
The event saw the participation of over 400 children with disabilities, 14 schools and four partner NGOs.
Speaking at the closing ceremony of the event, Vice President Faisal Naseem emphasized the importance of providing children with special needs with opportunities to develop their talents and achieve their "true potential".
To ensure an inclusive and productive community, VP Naseem urged government institutions and private companies to provide avenues for employment and development for such individuals.
According to 2016 figures of the 'Statistical Yearbook of Maldives 2017', MVR 156 million was paid as disability allowance for 6,696 registered individuals.
In addition to the Vice President, Minister of Education Aishath Ali, and Minister of Gender, Family and Social Services Shidhatha Shareef took part in the event.