The Oman Paralympic Committee held a meeting at the Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre (OCEC), chaired by Dr Mansoor al Touqi, Chairman of the Committee, and attended by board members and national team coaches. The meeting focused on intensive preparations undertaken by the Sultanate of Oman to host the West Asian Paralympic Games 2026, in addition to approving the internal and external participation agenda for the national teams in 2025. This reflects the committee’s commitment to enhancing the Sultanate of Oman’s position in the Paralympic sports field. Dr Al Touqi highlighted that the past year witnessed significant achievements for Oman’s Paralympic sports, with athletes winning various medals in regional and international championships, such as the Asian Paralympic Games and the World Para Athletics Championships. He explained that these honourable results were the outcome of the great efforts exerted by the athletes, technical and administrative teams, continuous support from the committee’s board members, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth, and strategic partners from the private sector. He stressed the importance of continuing these efforts to ensure the national teams are fully prepared for upcoming competitions, particularly the West Asian Games in Muscat in 2026, which marks a historic milestone in Oman’s Paralympic sports journey. The meeting included a comprehensive review of the national teams' preparation plans for the West Asian Games. Coaches presented integrated training programmes, including domestic and international training camps, along with participation in various international competitions to test athletes’ readiness and improve their technical performance. Additionally, mechanisms for evaluating athletes’ performance were discussed, with plans to collaborate with specialised sports institutions for physical and mental conditioning. Strategies to scout and recruit new players from various governorates of the Sultanate of Oman were also addressed, aiming to enrich the national teams with promising talents.
The meeting also explored the introduction of new sports within the committee’s activities to expand participation in the upcoming West Asian Games. Sports such as Boccia and blind football were proposed due to their significance in enhancing sports diversity and providing opportunities for new athlete categories to participate. Furthermore, preparations for organising the Oman Paralympic Committee’s annual gathering were discussed, which will serve as a platform to honour distinguished individuals and review the year’s achievements. Plans for developing technical staff, including coaches and referees, through specialised training programmes were also examined. The meeting approved the international participation agenda for 2025, which includes competing in several major international championships, such as the Grand Prix in Marrakech, the Asian Youth Paralympic Games in Bahrain, the Afro-Asian Goalball Championship in Sharjah, and the Asian Cycling Championship in Thailand. The committee also endorsed implementing referee training courses in wheelchair basketball, badminton, table tennis, and powerlifting to enhance referees' competency and ensure the best technical practices are applied in local and international tournaments. In conclusion, Dr Al Touqi affirmed that the committee operates with a clear vision to strengthen Oman’s presence in international Paralympic sports arenas. He expressed confidence in the athletes’ ability to achieve honourable results that reflect the remarkable progress witnessed in Oman’s Paralympic sports sector.
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