MUSCAT: The First Amateur Sports Forum, organized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Youth, kicked off on Monday and will conclude on Wednesday at the main hall of Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex. The forum featured nine diverse sports, including archery (Olympic and traditional), Sepak Takraw, Pentaball, purebred Arabian saluki racing, Netickball, Pickleball, Olympic boxing, exhibition wrestling, and falconry.
The opening ceremony was held under the patronage of His Excellency Basil bin Ahmed al Rawas, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Youth for Sports and Youth Affairs. The forum aims to spotlight amateur sports in Oman, promote their local and international participation, and create opportunities to support and organize these sports through the future establishment of dedicated sports committees and independent federations.
Speaking about the forum’s organization, Mohammed al Niyadi, Head of the Amateur Sports Department and supervisor of the First Amateur Sports Forum, stated that the event brings together emerging sports in Oman, featuring nine new disciplines that currently lack dedicated sports committees or federations. Al Niyadi highlighted that the young participants aim to popularize these sports and form national teams to represent Oman in international events.
Al Niyadi added that the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Youth is studying the feasibility and popularity of these sports. If successful and widely embraced, specialized sports committees may be established, with the potential to transform them into independent federations in the future.
Discussing the forum's objectives, Al Niyadi emphasized the primary goal of introducing these new sports to various segments of society, from children to seniors, as well as familiarizing existing athletes in Oman with them.
On his part, Saqr al Shaheemi, a falconry enthusiast, expressed his passion for the sport, shared by many others. He owned several falcons and has participated in international competitions. Al Shaheemi explained that their participation in this forum aims to advocate for the establishment of committees or a federation dedicated to falconry, enabling easier practice and organization within Oman and enhancing their international participation.
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