| Maldini to commemorate the Tsunami victims
22 December 2005
Uploaded: 22.12.2005, 6:15 PM
Maldini: yet to arrive Maldives to inaugrate the event.
Male',
MALDIVES - Paulo Maldini, the captain of Italy's giant club AC Milan and a goodwill ammbassador for United Nations will commemorate the victims of last year's Tsunami through the Unity cup that will kick off on 27th December at 1600hrs in National Stadium, says FAM.
The Unity cup is also a target for a Drug free campaign in Maldives and this event is organised by UNICEF in association with Football Association of Maldives and Ministry of Youth and Sports.
The event would kick off nation wide on 27th December and the events of that day will conisit of exhibition matches of each 20 minutes by Under 19, Under 13 and Female National teams and also the senior national team players will participate in the event.
" Drug abuse is very common in Maldives, we are trying to stop that and give a strong message to the society" said Youth and Sports miniter Hon. Hussain Hilmy during the media conference held at FAM today.
He also mentioned that the main aim of this event is to bring the youth together.
"We are trying to bring the youths together and to provide a free environment so that the youth would utilize their time" he said.
Mietal Rusdia, the co-ordinator for the event from UNICEF, in Maldives said that drugs have been a problem for the youths in Maldives.
"15-20% of the drug abusing population of Maldives consists of youth. We also have to note that 5000 people use drugs in the capital alone. This is 6% of the population. This figure is alarming. It is mainly due to the lack of recreational activities in atolls and in Male" She said.
She also told that the UNICEF is trying to aware and bring recreational sport activities in the rehabilitation process.
'We are trying to bring recreational activities in the rehabilitation process. And to make the society more aware of this situation"
Minister of Youth and Sports, Hon. Hussain Hilmy said that it is just a beginning of this program and it would be a huge event.
"We are kicking off this program on 27th. The event would be aimed for female and males across the country. This is also done in association of the 60th anniversary of United Nations"
Unity Cup is aimed for the secondary school youths. A delegation from the Football Association of Maldives would be visiting each atoll and would conduct a football festival which would comprise teams from each island. Then the best players of each fesitival would be trained for 15 days and brought to the capital for a tournament. The tournament would comprise teams of Male and the atolls grouped together. The trophy for the champion team is awarded by AC Milan.
Mietal Rusdia said that Paolo Maldini would be visiting the drug rehabilitation center.
"On the way to Galholhu Grounds for the event, he would stop in the rehabilitation center and would witness the events. We want him to feel and understand the situation in Maldives." She added.
....................................................................................................................
Send your comment about this article, [email protected]
|
