The fresh amendments to the Maldives Sports Act will usher transformational change to sports in the country, Minister of Sports, Fitness, and Recreation, Abdulla Rafiu has said.
In an interview with PSM News, Rafiu said the groundwork on many of the provisions in the amended Sports Act have already been laid while a long-term plan was established last year and detailed work is being done in collaboration with sporting associations.
One of the key highlights of these efforts, according to Minister Rafiu, was to constitute teams, tasked with gathering information and data needed for the legislative reforms.
However, the Minister admitted there was still a lot of work to be done in connection with the legislative amendments, adding that the foremost priority was to consult with the associations.
"For example, in forming regional associations and establishing sports funds and for example, finding out ways to raise money for the fund," he explained.
The objective is to minimise dependency on the State for sporting activities, he said, instead to seek assistance from the private sector and international organisations to establish the sports fund.
"Now I think that if we plan it this way, there are various foreign companies, for example, sports apparel makers, who will also help us," he said.
Minister Rafiu said there are many private companies and businessmen eager to assist the development of sports and athletes in the Maldives - who could be another source of contributions to the Sports Fund.
The revised law redefines the framework for sports administration, placing greater responsibility in the hands of regional bodies and creating new financial structures to ensure sustained investment in the sector.
Originally enacted in 2015, the Sports Act now includes measures that empower atoll- and island-level authorities to play a more prominent role in local sports development. Alongside this, the formation of regional sports associations for individual disciplines aims to formalise competitive structures and cultivate talent nationwide.
Integral to the reforms is the establishment of a National Sports Fund, designed to streamline financial assistance under a transparent governance model. The fund will allocate resources directly to athletes and organisations while also supporting infrastructure development and research initiatives. A seven-member board, appointed by the Minister of Sports, Fitness and Recreation, will oversee its operations, ensuring that investments are managed responsibly and serve long-term objectives. The government anticipates that this mechanism will facilitate the emergence of elite competitors while securing financial stability for the broader sports sector.