10 athletes gain Olympic Solidarity Scholarships

MUSCAT, SEPT 23
The Oman Olympic Committee (OOC) has signed agreements with 10 promising Omani athletes to receive Olympic Solidarity Scholarships, marking a significant step in preparations for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. The signing ceremony was held at the OOC headquarters on Tuesday under the patronage of HH Sayyid Azzan bin Qais al Said, OCC Chairman, in the presence of officials, board members, athletes and media representatives.
The 10 athletes were chosen from a pool of 36 nominees across various sports disciplines, with the International Olympic Solidarity Programme approving their candidacy. The list included three members from taekwondo: Fidaa bint Fuad al Barwaniyah, Dawood bin Fahd al Yousfi and Al Muhannad bin Tawfiq al Balushi. Three players were selected from fencing team including: Ahmed Anwar Kaskas, Israa bint Saif al Siyabiyah and Jana bint Mohammed al Sharjiyah. The athletics representatives were Ali bin Anwar al Balushi, Mulhem bin Darwish al Balushi, Fatik bin Abdulghafour Sanjour and Alya bint Faiq al Mughairiyah.
INTERNATIONAL CONFIDENCE
HH Sayyid Azzan bin Qais al Said emphasised that securing 10 scholarships, well above the usual allocation, reflects growing global trust in Oman’s ability to manage Olympic programmes. “This initiative represents a vital step towards building a comprehensive national project to develop Olympic champions. It is a shared responsibility that also invites private sector partnerships to enhance training, education, medical, and logistical support for our athletes,” he said.
Taekwondo hopeful Al Muhannad bin Tawfiq al Balushi described the scholarship as vital step:
“My dream is to compete at the Olympic Games against the world’s best. Through this support, I can achieve my dream with enhanced preparation, internal and external training camps, and participation in international competitions.”
Athletics representative Alya bint Faiq al Mughairiyah said: “I feel deeply honoured by this opportunity. The scholarship will help me grow both individually and within the team, and I am determined to maximise its benefits.”
OOC'S COMMITMENT
Abdullah Bamakhalaf, OOC Secretary-General, reiterated the committee’s dedication to providing every possible resource to help athletes achieve the performance levels required for Olympic competition. He highlighted that the scholarships are part of the IOC’s Olympic Solidarity Programme, designed to improve training environments and boost technical readiness.
The scholarships cover training expenses at home and abroad, access to elite coaching, technical and medical support, and participation in international training camps. They are aimed at raising the standard of domestic competition, broadening Oman’s pool of elite athletes, and developing a new generation capable of representing the Sultanate of Oman at major global events. The OOC confirmed its ongoing collaboration with national sports associations to ensure the scholarship recipients receive full support on their journey to Los Angeles 2028.