Male, Maldives, October 21, 2026: The Maldives International Arbitration Centre, in collaboration with the Maldives Olympic Committee and the Asian International Arbitration Centre, held the first Sports Arbitration Conference in the Maldives earlier this month.
Maldives Olympic Committee Secretary General Thamooh Ahmed Saeed highlighted the significance of the conference at a crucial time for Maldivian sport, following recent amendments to the Maldives Sports Act introducing provisions for sports arbitration.
The MOC Secretary General emphasised the importance of fair and independent dispute resolution mechanisms to safeguard athletes’ rights and strengthen good governance.
A key highlight was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Maldives IAC and Asian IAC, marking an important step towards strengthening institutional cooperation and arbitration expertise.
The technical sessions included presentations from Ms. Heather Yee Jing Wah of the Asian IAC, who discussed the Maldives Arbitration Act, and from Mr. Richard Wee, who talked on sports arbitration and the importance of effective dispute resolution mechanisms within the sporting sector.