Firas al Hinai marks Oman’s Brics Skate Cup debut

MUSCAT: Oman made its debut at the Brics Skate Cup, with skateboarder Firas al Hinai representing the Sultanate of Oman at the 2026 edition in Ryazan, Russia, from August 27 to 31.
The event attracted 987 male and female athletes from 27 countries, alongside participants from 20 Russian regions. Oman’s delegation was headed by Eng Saud bin Nasser al Aufi, Chairman of the Oman Skating Sports Committee, while Al Hinai competed in the skateboarding events.
The participation marked the beginning of Oman’s presence at the international event. It formed part of the committee’s efforts to provide Omani athletes with opportunities to compete abroad and gain valuable technical experience.
Organised by the Russian Skateboarding and Roller Sports Federation, the event brought together athletes from Brics member states and several other countries, including Oman, Argentina, Bahrain, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Madagascar, Türkiye and Yemen. The programme featured competitions in skateboarding, roller sports and scootering.
Oman’s participation comes as skating sports continue to gain wider international recognition. Skateboarding’s inclusion in the Olympic programme has added further importance to international competitions, particularly for athletes seeking to develop their abilities and compete against different schools and styles.
Al Aufi said the event represented an important milestone for the committee as Oman’s first official participation in the Brics Skate Cup. He also praised the warm reception, high standard of organisation and cooperation among the parties involved.
“We are delighted to participate in this sporting festival, which reflects the growing profile of skating sports in their various forms and provides an important opportunity for athletes and administrators from different countries to exchange experience,” he said.

OLYMPIC SPORT
“Skateboarding is also an Olympic sport, and international competitions of this kind contribute to raising athletes’ standards and strengthening their competitive abilities.”
Al Aufi said Al Hinai’s participation would provide him with valuable international experience and open up broader opportunities for his development over the coming years. He added that the committee would prepare more extensively for future editions and seek to participate with a larger delegation comprising several athletes.
He noted that developing skating disciplines into organised sports with an international presence could help harness young people’s abilities and guide them towards achievement.
The committee, he added, is working to develop skating sports in a manner consistent with Oman’s identity, culture and environment, while creating opportunities for young talent to gain competitive experience abroad.
Al Hinai said, competing at the Brics Skate Cup was a special and important experience for me, especially as I took part alongside skateboarders from different countries who possess considerable skill and experience.
“The event allowed me to learn about new training and competition methods and helped me gain greater experience in dealing with the atmosphere of international championships.”
Al Hinai thanked the Oman Skating Sports Committee for giving him the opportunity to represent Oman, adding that he was determined to build on the experience and continue developing his performance.
“My goal is to continue training, participate in more competitions and raise my performance level so that I can achieve better results and represent Oman with distinction in future events,” he said.
The Oman Skating Sports Committee will continue its efforts to promote and develop skating sports, attract more young people and prepare athletes for regional and international competitions, to build a broader base of participants capable of representing Oman abroad.