The Maldives Olympic Committee (MOC) has set an annual budget of MVR 72 million for 2023.
The committee's annual budget was set at a meeting on Saturday that was attended by all of the affiliated associations of MOC. The committee will spend 86 percent of the total budget, or MVR 62 million, on five multi-sport events.
The government will release 80 percent of the MOC budget through the Ministry of Youth, Sports, and Community Empowerment.
The Asian Games and the Indian Ocean Island Games will receive the majority of MOC's budget. Both tournaments feature significant Maldives participation.
The Minister of Youth, Sports, and Community Empowerment, Ahmed Mahloof has said the government will prioritise participation in the Indian Ocean Island Games.
Asian Games, initially set for 2022 was pushed to 2023 due to the persisting Covid-19 conditions in China which improved resulting in the country reopening their borders in December allowing both inbound and outbound aviation.
- Asian Games
- Indian Ocean Island Games
- Commonwealth Youth Games
- World Beach Games
- Asian Indoor Martial Arts Games
Last year, MOC set an annual budget of MVR 50 million, with a projected expenditure of MVR 47 million. However, the Secretary General of MOC, Thamooh Saeed, said this year’s budget will not have any surplus.
"We set a bigger budget this year, focusing on the games. Expenses will be high in the two games where we have a large Maldivian contingent," Thamooh said.
This year’s Indian Ocean Island Games have been relocated to Madagascar after the original host, the Maldives, declared it would not be able to host the games as it is still recovering from the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Maldives has won medals at two major sporting events: the South Asian Games and the Indian Ocean Island Games.
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