Muscat: Musandam Governorate witnessed a resounding success in hosting the final of His Majesty the Sultan's Cup for the 2023-2024 sports season, which brought together Al Nahdha and Dhofar clubs at Khasab Sports Complex on Friday. The match was attended by a large crowd from various governorates of Oman, with the number of spectators in the stadium exceeding 7,000 fans. The atmosphere was enthusiastic and competitive between the two teams.
Musandam's hosting of the match was distinguished by exceptional organisation that was praised by everyone. The government provided all the necessary facilities to ensure the smooth running of the match, starting with securing the stadium and equipping it to the highest standards, providing transportation and accommodation for fans, and providing the necessary security and health services. The organising committee was also keen to create a special festive atmosphere for the event, through folklore shows and accompanying entertainment activities.
Enhancing tourism status
Musandam's success in hosting the final of His Majesty the Sultan's Cup has contributed to strengthening its position as an important tourist destination on Oman's tourism map. This hosting has helped to introduce Omani and Arab audiences to the beauty of Musandam and its unique tourist attractions, from its stunning beaches and towering mountains to its ancient villages and rich history.
Sports marketing
Mohammed bin Ali al Shehhi, a member of the Municipal Council in Dibba, Musandam Governorate, said that football passion in the Sultanate of Oman is great and is not limited to one city at the expense of another, and this is what we saw from the hosting of this final in Musandam Governorate. He added that hosting the final is an outlet for the people of the region, whether expatriates or citizens, through the accompanying events and activities to the final.
Seeing women, children, the elderly and families present to watch the accompanying events of the final, including electronic games, popular games, and traditional arts, as well as fan clubs of the two teams, in addition to the theatre that showed previous matches, indicates the resounding success of this hosting and the role of football in stimulating many aspects.
Economic and social impact
We saw many effects from hosting this sporting event in Musandam Governorate, the most prominent of which is the return of sports passion and its stimulation, in addition to the cultural, social and artistic impact through learning about new arts and rich natural tourist places in Oman and the extended economic effects before and after the match in the governorate.
Al Shehhi said that in recent times, it has received great attention from His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik. It was crowned by hosting this major event, which has great importance. Al Shehhi explained that hosting will give a qualitative leap to the governorate in general through the media spotlight it has received. He added that the final match of His Majesty's Cup is watched by a large audience from inside and outside the Sultanate of Oman, which will contribute to putting the governorate on the world map.
Al Shehhi added that many projects have been worked on in previous periods, the most prominent of which is the Dibba Port, which is considered the second-largest marine fishing port in Oman. It also has the longest water slide in the world, with a length of 1,800 metres and a height of 220 metres above the water surface. In addition, the largest and most massive project, which is expected to make a qualitative leap in the coming period, is the road linking the Wilayat of Dibba to the Wilayat of Khasab. The media coverage for the match contributed to shedding light on these projects.
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