Funds for the insurance of athletes in the national teams as well as officials, have been proposed to be included in the state budget for 2025.

Minister of Sports, Fitness and Recreation Abdulla Rafiu revealed this during a press conference held at the President’s Office to update the press on the work done by the ministry over the past nine months.

The minister stated that funds for insurance have been proposed for inclusion in the 2025 budget.

Providing insurance for national team athletes and officials was a priority for previous administrations as well.

However, it has not been officially included in the state budget, yet.

The minister has stressed that providing easy access to healthcare for athletes participating in multiple sports is an essential and important task.

Further, he said that insurance will first be introduced for national athletes.

Officials in national teams will also be provided with arrangements for insurance.

The minister said that further consideration would be needed to expand this in the future. He said this in response to a question posed by a journalist whether there were plans to make such arrangements for international referees in the Maldives.

He went on to highlight that he believes the easiest and best way to go about something when working to introduce it, is the most appropriate thing to do. This, he said, is because the main purpose of starting this is to focus on national athletes, and after that, expanding will be considered.

Maldivian athletes compete in several different international tournaments every year.

However, the government has not provided insurance arrangements or services to athletes, to date.