Parents call for smarter, diverse Summer Sports

MUSCAT, MAY 23
As the summer vacation period approaches, parents across the Sultanate of Oman have called for the development and diversification of summer sports programmes organised by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth during the coming months of June, July and August.
Parents stressed the importance of introducing modern and innovative activities that align with global technological developments, particularly through the integration of artificial intelligence into sports-related programmes. They also emphasised the need to focus on physical fitness, technical skill development, ethical values and cultural awareness while helping students build stronger personal identities during the summer break.
The summer sports programmes have become one of the most important seasonal initiatives implemented by the Ministry through its departments and directorates across various governorates in Oman. The programmes aim to provide healthy environments for youth to invest their free time positively while enhancing their physical and personal development.
Speaking to the Observer, Ibrahim bin Khalfan al Shibli, Acting Director of the Sports Activity Department at the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth, said the previous edition of the summer programmes achieved strong participation and positive outcomes. “The summer sports programmes included a variety of activities such as training centres in different sports, open sports days, sports caravans and several awareness and community initiatives,” he said.
“The diversity of the programmes helped attract various age groups and segments of society. More than 16,851 participants took part in the previous edition across different governorates, while the number of programmes and activities reached 171 events,” he added.
Al Shibli highlighted several strengths achieved through the programmes, including promoting sports culture and encouraging physical activity as a healthy lifestyle, in addition to expanding sports services to communities located far from sports complexes and clubs.
“The programmes also contributed to making better use of national sports cadres and available facilities while activating public spaces, beaches, parks and open areas for sports activities,” he explained.
Regarding the challenges faced during implementation, Al Shibli pointed to the increasing demand for certain sports activities and the pressure placed on facilities and operational resources.
“Despite these challenges, the organising teams managed the situation efficiently by expanding some training centres and introducing additional periods to meet growing demand,” he clarified.
He confirmed that the Ministry is currently working on a more advanced version of the summer programmes for this year through workshops and evaluation sessions involving beneficiaries, organisers and related entities.
“This year’s plan focuses on expanding training centres and open activities while targeting different segments of society to achieve higher participation and satisfaction levels,” he said.
Al Shibli also stressed the Ministry’s commitment to keeping pace with technological developments in sports through digital platforms and artificial intelligence tools.
“Artificial intelligence has become an important element in developing organisational and promotional aspects of sports programmes. It can also be utilised in analysing data, measuring participant satisfaction, improving training plans and enhancing the overall experience,” he explained.

IMPROVING FITNESS
Meanwhile, Masoud al Shaqsi, parent and board member of the Oman Table Tennis Association, described the summer sports programmes as highly important initiatives for students during school holidays. “These programmes play an effective role in attracting large numbers of participants, helping them invest their free time positively while developing their abilities, improving fitness levels and promoting healthy lifestyles,” he said.
Al Shaqsi called for greater involvement of specialists in sports education and youth development to supervise the programmes while ensuring the availability of suitable facilities and infrastructure.
“It is important to provide air-conditioned venues due to the summer heat and expand the programmes to include all wilayats and remote villages,” he stated.
On the use of artificial intelligence, Al Shaqsi emphasised the importance of keeping pace with global technological progress. “Artificial intelligence can improve training efficiency, reduce injuries, analyse strengths and weaknesses scientifically and support smart management of sports facilities and activities,” he noted.
He suggested the use of smart robots, computer vision cameras, wearable devices and smart applications to monitor physical performance, analyse data and create customised nutritional and training recommendations for participants.
MODERN TOPICS
Basheer al Riyami, parent and former supervisor of summer sports programmes, also underlined the importance of introducing modern topics that reflect the changing needs of society. “Summer centres and programmes are a valuable investment for children during holidays, and parents are always pleased to involve their children in these beneficial activities,” he said.
Al Riyami stressed the importance of integrating artificial intelligence topics alongside sports, cultural and educational activities. “There are many fields where artificial intelligence can be utilised, including design, programming, translation and simulation. Introducing these technologies in summer programmes can help discover talents and create promising opportunities for youth in the future,” he explained.

ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES
Additionally, Ishaq al Harthy, parent and former international volleyball referee, expressed his support for integrating smart technologies and artificial intelligence into summer sports programmes, stressing that modern technology has become an essential part of sports development worldwide.
“Today, sports are closely connected with advanced technologies, and it is important for summer programmes to keep pace with these developments. Artificial intelligence and smart applications can help students analyse their performances, improve fitness levels and develop their sporting skills scientifically,” he explained.
He also emphasised the importance of balancing technological aspects with practical physical activities and competitions, noting that students should remain actively engaged in sports on the field. “It is important to encourage students to participate in physical sporting competitions and practical activities because this helps develop their confidence, technical abilities and competitive spirit,” he said.
Al Harthy pointed out that summer programmes can play a major role in preparing students for future official competitions and sports participation through well-structured training environments and continuous technical guidance. “The summer period is considered a golden opportunity to discover talented athletes who can later represent clubs and national teams,” he added.
Parents and officials concluded that future summer sports programmes should move beyond entertainment activities and evolve into sustainable developmental initiatives capable of building healthier, more skilled and technologically aware generations in line with the objectives of Oman Vision 2040.