The government will be making efforts to attract Fifa World Cup 2022 Qatar qualifying teams to set up practice camps in the Sultanate of Oman.
Speaking to the youths at a weekly TV programme, Basil bin Ahmed al Rowas, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth for Sports and Youth, said, “There is coordination with the Omani Football Association to attract a group of teams that have qualified for the World Cup in Qatar 2022 to set up camps in the Sultanate of Oman before the start of the tournament.” Qatar will host the tournament from November 21 to December 18.
He added that the sports facilities for these teams have been prepared according to international standards.
Earlier speaking to the Observer, the tour operators representing the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism said, “Nearly 85 per cent of the hotel room bookings in Qatar will be handled by the agents approved by Fifa, which opens up demand for facilities in the neighbouring markets such as the Sultanate of Oman.”
Saada al Harthi, Director of Business Development, MoHT, said, “Some packages will be announced in coordination with all stakeholders in time for the World Cup.”
Al Rowas said the Sultanate of Oman gives great attention to sports development with the launch of new strategies and plans.
The under-secretary said sports have always received great attention from the government and the country has performed well in regional and international levels competitions.
“It has also hosted Asian and international championships. Among these recent achievements is Mohammed al Mashaykhi who won shot put bronze at the Paralympic Games Tokyo 2021.”
“There is a group of promising players in various individual and team sports who can achieve Olympic medals, and there is a project by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth to target young athletes who have performed well in recent times and prepare and support them for the Paris Olympics and the Los Angeles Olympics,” he said.
"We must keep pace with the vision of “Oman 2040 to have an active healthy society, economically viable sports organizations, and efficiently managed sports organisations.”
Al Rowas said that as per the directives of the Minister of Culture, Sports and Youth, the focus is on to increase in investment and marketing, encouraging opportunities in the sports sector, and communicating with companies to support institutions and sports clubs.
Al Rowas indicated that there are many opportunities for investment in the sports sector, and sports is a promising market in general.
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