The government plans to construct 27 indoor sports complexes across the Maldives to upgrade nation-wide athletic infrastructure and decentralize sporting opportunities beyond the capital, Minister of Youth Empowerment, Sports and Fitness Abdulla Rafiu announced.
The infrastructure drive will establish modern indoor facilities throughout the outer atolls as well as the Greater Malé region, featuring dedicated complexes in Vilimalé, Hulhumalé Phase I, and Hulhumalé Phase II. Minister Rafiu confirmed that development work on the Hulhumalé Phase II venue is slated to commence shortly to help relieve the capital’s long-standing shortage of indoor training space.
Highlighting the need for expansion, the Minister noted that the Malé Youth Centre has remained the capital’s sole primary indoor arena for over three decades. The creation of these additional venues aims to give local athletes access to professional training grounds while allowing national tournaments and indoor sports events to be hosted efficiently across multiple locations.
The nationwide rollout aligns with broader government policies to decentralize sports administration and cultivate athletic talent across all regions. Furthermore, recent legislative amendments to the Sports Act have enabled national sports associations to establish regional administrative offices, further supporting grassroots development and competition hosting outside the capital.
