Sports Minister Announces New Tracks, Indoor Complexes and Facility Upgrades

The Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Sports and Fitness is undertaking a nationwide overhaul of sports infrastructure to address long-standing maintenance problems and expand access to sporting facilities across the Maldives, Minister Abdulla Rafiu has said.

Speaking at the “Ahaa” public forum last night, Minister Rafiu outlined several ongoing and planned projects, including regional athletics tracks, new sports complexes and 27 indoor facilities in the Maldives.

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Rafiu acknowledged concerns over the deteriorating condition of futsal grounds and other sports facilities across the islands, attributing some of the maintenance problems to fragmented responsibility for the facilities.

He said the Ministry issued a circular in 2024 to bring island sports facilities under its direct oversight, including facilities previously managed by local councils or constructed through private donations.

According to the Minister, the arrangement is intended to follow a model similar to the management of health centres by the Ministry of Health and schools by the Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Skills Development.

He said that under the new system, staff will be stationed at island fitness and recreation centres to conduct daily monitoring and oversee continuous maintenance. The centres will also receive dedicated budgets to support their operations and upkeep.

Minister Rafiu said the deteriorating running track in Hulhumalé will be completely replaced rather than receiving temporary repairs. The new track will feature a World Athletics-standard Full Polyurethane (PU) surface. Materials have already been ordered, with installation scheduled to begin early next month.

The project is expected to be completed between January and February next year.

The Hulhumalé project is part of a wider expansion of athletics infrastructure. A synthetic track is currently under development in Kulhudhuffushi City while three additional tracks are scheduled to begin construction this year in Fuvahmulah City, Addu City and Thinadhoo City under the Indian Line of Credit (LoC).

The Minister also provided updates on several regional sports projects that have faced delays.

Work on the football ground and fitness and recreation centre in Vaikaradhoo was delayed due to material shortages and the merger of a State-Owned Enterprise, he said.

The Minister said work is expected to resume within two weeks, with completion targeted for late this year or early next year.

In Addu City’s Feydhoo, technical preparations and production have begun for a new sports complex. Construction is scheduled to begin towards the end of this year, with completion targeted for November 2027. The Ministry is also working to resolve issues surrounding the delayed contract for a badminton hall in the area.

Meanwhile, the Ministry plans to establish 27 new indoor sports complexes in the Malé area, including facilities in Hulhumalé Phase 1 and Phase 2 and Villingili.

Minister Rafiu said the expansion is intended to ease scheduling constraints for tournaments and school athletes by increasing the availability of indoor sporting facilities.

He also highlighted recent legal developments concerning sports for people with disabilities, noting the formal establishment of the National Paralympic Committee as an independent statutory body.

According to the Minister, the legal recognition of the committee will provide a framework for dedicated state funding and support equal sporting opportunities for athletes with disabilities.