Snow park at Sultan Park to be replaced with esports arena

The snow park in Malé Sultan Park, built to simulate winter conditions, will be removed and replaced with a gaming and esports centre, President Dr Mohamed Muizzu said last night.

The winter-themed attraction, constructed during President Muizzu’s tenure as housing minister on the plot where the historic Kalhu Vakaru Mosque once stood, opened in June 2018 and initially proved popular. Operated by Diamond Wings Pvt Ltd, it charged for admission and drew steady crowds in its early months.

However, the company stopped running the facility and “disappeared”, Muizzu said. In 2021 the Male' city council issued a public notice seeking the operator, but the site has remained unused ever since and has fallen into disrepair.

During a meeting with residents of the Machchangolhi district last night, several young people raised concerns about the lack of gaming spaces and recreational venues in the capital.

In response, President Muizzu said Male' had little room for sports grounds, esports hubs or arcades, and pledged to prioritize such facilities.

He said the government had now decided to demolish the snow park and develop an esports arena on the land. Rebuilding the winter attraction would cost far too much, he added.

“One thing we can do immediately is remove the old snow park building in Sultan Park. It is now destroyed. It was left unused during the last government, and the cost of rebuilding it would be very high,” President Muizzu said.

The new gaming facility would be developed “with the advice and participation of the relevant association,” he added.

President Muizzu said another gaming venue was planned for the area formerly occupied by MNSL flats near the SHE Building, which are currently being demolished. An arcade centre will be built on one of the plots, while another will house an indoor sports space for children, similar to facilities in developed countries, he said.

The president said the aim was to end long-standing complaints about the lack of recreational spaces in Male' and to create opportunities for young people and children to play a range of sports, including futsal and netball.