Racing track and surfing stadium to be developed in the Male' region

Ministry of Sports, Fitness and Recreation has begun preparations to develop a racing and drift arena in the Male' region alongside a surfing and bodyboarding stadium.

With land allocated for the racing and drift arena, the Ministry had signed an MoU with Housing Development Corporation (HDC) on Thursday to proceed this and has assigned the development of a surfing and bodyboarding stadium to a Chinese company, Rotime Engineering And Technology Co. Limited registered in Hong Kong, China.

Racing and drifting is a sport popular among Maldivian youth with multiple racing competitions held on the streets of Hulhumale' City over the years despite the country having no racing tracks. The racing community has expressed concerns about a lack of a racing track to several governments on multiple occasions.

"The youth has been heavily requesting it, it has been going on for a considerably long time as well. With God's will, the path for this to be done within this year has been opened." said the Minister of Sports, Fitness and Recreation ministry, Abdulla Rafiu.

Body boarding and surfing is also a progressing sport in the country that has gained traction within the youth.

International Bodyboarding Corporation (IBC) added a Maldives Pro tour for the first time in 2022 and hosted the event in Maldives, further including the country in their 2023 World tour calendar as well. Moreover, the Asian Surfing Championship was also held in Kaafu atoll Thulusdhoo last year.

The Ministry reiterates that the purpose of establishing a body boarding and surfing stadium in the country is to eliminate the challenges faced when seeking to host international competitions.

Concluding the speech, the Ministry shared that the concept and design of the racing and drift arena and the surfing and bodyboarding stadium has been finished in accordance with consultations held with the respective associations.