11 sports events, 8 cultural activities featured in festival
Published: 04:12 PM,Dec 05,2024 | EDITED : 08:12 PM,Dec 05,2024
MUSCAT, DEC 5
The fifth Annual Festival for Persons with Disabilities 2024, held under the slogan 'Determination and Challenge', concluded its activities with great success. Organised by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth, represented by the General Directorate of Sports Activities, in collaboration with the Ministries of Education, Social Development, and Health, the festival targeted approximately 2,600 participants, including individuals with disabilities, their families and supervisors from all governorates of Oman. A delegation from Saudi Arabia also participated.
The closing ceremony, held at the festival’s village in Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex in Bausher, was under the auspices of Her Highness Sayyidah Hujaija bint Jaifer al Said, Chairperson of the Association for Children with Disabilities.
The event featured a variety of performances, starting with a song presented by two children from the Omar bin A Khattab Institute, Talal bin Abdulrahim al Majini and Shahd al Siriri, followed by a patriotic performance by young talent Noor al Amri. A documentary video highlighting the festival’s key activities and milestones was also screened. The ceremony concluded with HH Sayyidah Hujaija honouring the winners, participants and organisers, recognising their efforts in making the festival a success.
In her speech, HH Sayyidah Hujaija emphasised the importance of the festival in showcasing the abilities of persons with disabilities in sports and cultural domains. She described it as an effective step towards empowering this group and enhancing their role in society. She also expressed gratitude to all governmental and private entities for their continued support, which contributes to creating an encouraging environment for individuals with disabilities to achieve their ambitions and demonstrate their talents.
Festival Director Ziyana al Yaarubi noted that the event is not just a celebration but a tribute to the determination and resilience of individuals with disabilities. She described them as examples of perseverance and creativity deserving of support to achieve their goals.
Deputy Festival Chairman Hamood al Jabri stressed the importance of highlighting the achievements of this group and called for continued support to build a more inclusive and just society.
Dr Mohammed al Ghafri, a member of the main committee, emphasised the need for comprehensive care, including physical therapy, psychological support, and improved access to health facilities. He reaffirmed the commitment of Oman’s health sector to enhancing the quality of life for persons with disabilities.
Amaal al Hattali highlighted the significance of inclusive education, advocating for flexible learning environments and curriculum development to meet their needs. Hala al Wuhaibi focused on strengthening social relationships and community integration, emphasising family support and daily care. Meanwhile, Tahira al Maawali underscored the role of sports in promoting fitness and a competitive spirit, while cultural activities offer opportunities for creativity and self expression.
Diverse Activities
The festival included 11 sports programmes, such as athletics, the Race of Determination, bocce, badminton, diving, wheelchair basketball, goalball for the visually impaired, botcha, deaf football, bowling and traditional games.
Additionally, eight cultural programmes were hosted at the festival village, featuring exhibitions and workshops on fine arts, photography, Arabic calligraphy, virtual reality experiences, and traditional clothing design using AI technologies. Numerous booths from participating governmental and private institutions were also present.
Sports related training workshops were conducted, including courses on game and competition management, bocce and botcha refereeing and coaching, and goalball training. A specialised workshop was held for preparing (GMS) system specialists to manage and organise games and competitions. Recreational diving sessions provided participants with basic diving skills and knowledge on using the necessary equipment.
The festival also organised tourist visits to prominent landmarks such as the Royal Opera House Muscat, the National Museum, and the State Council, adding a cultural dimension to the programme.
Pics by Abdulwahid al Hamadani
The fifth Annual Festival for Persons with Disabilities 2024, held under the slogan 'Determination and Challenge', concluded its activities with great success. Organised by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth, represented by the General Directorate of Sports Activities, in collaboration with the Ministries of Education, Social Development, and Health, the festival targeted approximately 2,600 participants, including individuals with disabilities, their families and supervisors from all governorates of Oman. A delegation from Saudi Arabia also participated.
The closing ceremony, held at the festival’s village in Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex in Bausher, was under the auspices of Her Highness Sayyidah Hujaija bint Jaifer al Said, Chairperson of the Association for Children with Disabilities.
The event featured a variety of performances, starting with a song presented by two children from the Omar bin A Khattab Institute, Talal bin Abdulrahim al Majini and Shahd al Siriri, followed by a patriotic performance by young talent Noor al Amri. A documentary video highlighting the festival’s key activities and milestones was also screened. The ceremony concluded with HH Sayyidah Hujaija honouring the winners, participants and organisers, recognising their efforts in making the festival a success.
In her speech, HH Sayyidah Hujaija emphasised the importance of the festival in showcasing the abilities of persons with disabilities in sports and cultural domains. She described it as an effective step towards empowering this group and enhancing their role in society. She also expressed gratitude to all governmental and private entities for their continued support, which contributes to creating an encouraging environment for individuals with disabilities to achieve their ambitions and demonstrate their talents.
Festival Director Ziyana al Yaarubi noted that the event is not just a celebration but a tribute to the determination and resilience of individuals with disabilities. She described them as examples of perseverance and creativity deserving of support to achieve their goals.
Deputy Festival Chairman Hamood al Jabri stressed the importance of highlighting the achievements of this group and called for continued support to build a more inclusive and just society.
Dr Mohammed al Ghafri, a member of the main committee, emphasised the need for comprehensive care, including physical therapy, psychological support, and improved access to health facilities. He reaffirmed the commitment of Oman’s health sector to enhancing the quality of life for persons with disabilities.
Amaal al Hattali highlighted the significance of inclusive education, advocating for flexible learning environments and curriculum development to meet their needs. Hala al Wuhaibi focused on strengthening social relationships and community integration, emphasising family support and daily care. Meanwhile, Tahira al Maawali underscored the role of sports in promoting fitness and a competitive spirit, while cultural activities offer opportunities for creativity and self expression.
Diverse Activities
The festival included 11 sports programmes, such as athletics, the Race of Determination, bocce, badminton, diving, wheelchair basketball, goalball for the visually impaired, botcha, deaf football, bowling and traditional games.
Additionally, eight cultural programmes were hosted at the festival village, featuring exhibitions and workshops on fine arts, photography, Arabic calligraphy, virtual reality experiences, and traditional clothing design using AI technologies. Numerous booths from participating governmental and private institutions were also present.
Sports related training workshops were conducted, including courses on game and competition management, bocce and botcha refereeing and coaching, and goalball training. A specialised workshop was held for preparing (GMS) system specialists to manage and organise games and competitions. Recreational diving sessions provided participants with basic diving skills and knowledge on using the necessary equipment.
The festival also organised tourist visits to prominent landmarks such as the Royal Opera House Muscat, the National Museum, and the State Council, adding a cultural dimension to the programme.
Pics by Abdulwahid al Hamadani