With the increased demand and participation in sports activities, it has become important to provide adequate facilities to cater to the needs of the sports community. Having adequate sports infrastructures across the nation allows in achieving excellence in global arena of sports. To achieve this goal, three sports infrastructure projects are put forward by the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Community Empowerment.

Development of Football Stadiums in 20 Islands:

With football being the most popular sports in the country, considered as the national sport in the Maldives, it has become important that proper infrastructure be developed to develop skills and the sports itself. The increased participation at club and national level competitions also signifies the need to develop adequate sports facilities in the islands, as there are very few islands with sufficient facilities in place to cater for the needs of the players.

With this project, the Ministry intends to develop adequate infrastructure according to international standards across 20 islands within four years with an estimated cost of USD 498,000.00 per stadium, provide opportunities for football players in the islands, increase the number of professional sports athletes, increase the number of national sports events, increase the opportunities to conduct international sports events, and facilitate ways to develop and increase the well-being of the people.

Development of Five Synthetic Tracks:

Athletics events used to be mainly enjoyed among students in school. However, this has changed over the years alongside with increased exposure to sports in international competitions and the victories Maldivian contestants have won over time.

National tournaments are held each year in both the North and South of the Maldives, alongside with the capital. While the tournaments remain as one of the competitive events held in the nation, the challenge lies in the minimal infrastructures developed for these events. Currently, there exists no specific athletic tracks for athletes, and the only one in Male’ is used by everyone in the community for various sports activities.

Therefore, this project proposes to develop adequate infrastructure specific for the sports over a span of three years across five regions (HDh. Kulhudhuffushi, Male’ City, GDh. Thinadhoo, Gn. Fuvahmulah, and Addu City), which includes international standard running tracks of 400 meters with minimum eight lanes at the cost of USD 1,019,000.00 per synthetic track, provide opportunities for athletes in the islands, increase the number of professional sports athletes, increase opportunities to conduct international sports events in the country, and develop and increase the well-being of the people.

Development of a National Cricket Stadium in Hulhumale’:

Even though cricket may not be the national sport of the country, much effort by the sports community to strengthen developmental programs has resulted in the increase in interest and demand for the sport.

While the sport is played at both the national and international level, the lack of adequate infrastructure has been a major challenge faced by the cricket community. At present, there exists no specific stadium developed for the sport in the country. In order to cater to this need, the Government has proposed to build a national cricket stadium in Hulhumale’. The development of an international cricket stadium brings with it a host of opportunities to the country, which could give much needed exposure to Maldives in the field of sports.

This project therefore intends to develop a national cricket stadium in the span of two years which would facilitate development of adequate infrastructure specific for the sport, provide opportunities to conduct national and international level tournaments, increase the number of professional sports athletes, and develop and increase the well-being of the people.