The meeting in Malé was held between an MOC delegation led by President Mohamed Shaweed and figures from the Ministry of Youth and Sports as well as the various National Sports Associations of Maldives.

This consisted of bodies representing football, volleyball, basketball, athletics, badminton, cricket, swimming, tennis, table tennis, pool and billiards, shooting, chess, bodybuilding, handball, netball and carrom.

Those present noted the importance of preserving the autonomy of sport - a topical issue in the Olympic Movement - and called on all associations as well as the Government to work in the "spirit of preserving independence of the sporting associations".

Difficulties associated with attaining funds for various competitions as well as the functioning of the associations were outlined, as well as the challenge of securing adequate sporting venues for practice and competitions.

The Indian Ocean nation, which gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1965, first competed at the Olympics in Seoul in 1988.

It has participated at every Summer Games since, but is still yet to win a medal.

Five athletes competed across the sports of athletics, swimming and badminton at London 2012, with flagbearer Mohamed Ajfan Rasheed becoming their first Olympian in the latter sport.

This comes following a tense year in which former President and opposition leader Mohammed Nasheed was arrested on terrorism charges and jailed for 13 years in March, sparking mass protests by his supporters.

A 30-day state of emergency was declared by the Government last month ahead of a mass rally in support of Nasheed.

This permitted security forces to detain suspects without charge, and censor and shut-down major online news sites.

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