MUSCAT, Sept 14
The Oman School Sports Federation unveiled its strategy for the 2022-27 period and introduced its ambassadors during a glittering ceremony at the Grand Millenium Hotel here on Wednesday.
The event was held under the auspices of Dr Madeeha bint Ahmed bin Nasser Al Shaibaniyah, Minister of Education.
The dignitaries at the ceremony included Shaikh Khalid al Zubair, Chairman of Oman Olympic Committee, in presence of Dr Marwan bin Juma al Juma, Chairman of Oman Hockey Association, Abdullah Bamakhalef, Chairman of Oman Table Tennis Associations and Dr Said al Shahri, Chairman of Oman Handball Association, among other top officials and invitees.
Other dignitaries included general managers and heads of sports associations and committees, secretaries of sports committees in educational directorates and several sports supervisors and experts.
Dr Abdullah bin Khamis Ambosaidi, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Education for Education and OSSA President, said: “The strategy of the OSSA (2022-2027) will be a turning point in the functioning of the association influencing and adding value to sports in schools. The OSSA will give a foundation to the students providing them with the best knowledge, skills and tools that enable them to build a healthy, balanced lifestyle and establish a conscious vision to reconcile school achievement, school sports and physical activity.”
“Since the establishment of the Oman School Sports Association in 2016, it has been striving through all its activities and initiatives to improve the practice environment and environment for school sports to enable the value of sports as a way of life in the educational community. Hence the framing of this strategy will help as a scientific and methodological aid for designing activities, programmes and initiatives for the school sports curriculum.”
“The current path charted by the strategy is consistent with the Oman Vision 2040, which has set within its strategic objectives ‘a stimulating environment and systems for sport that contributes economically and compete globally’,” Dr Abdullah added.
“The work on this strategy was based on an accurate and systematic diagnosis of the reality of school sports and was guided by the best international practices in this context, in order to formulate an ambitious vision for the OSSA’s work during the next stage.”
“Our mission is to “proceed with an institutional approach in accordance with best practices to push school sports to be an added development value. This strategy needs the cooperation and support of all relevant parties, including the Ministry of Education in its various sectors, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth, partner sports federations, sports media, the private sector and other relevant parties to achieve its goals.”
“Also, in line with the announcement of the strategy, the launch of the new identity of the OSSA today will represent a key direction for the association in creating a balanced sports culture among the young people of Oman.”
SPORTS AMBASSADORS
The OSSA also introduced its ambassadors – sports heroes of the country.
The ambassadors include Oman football great Ali al Habsi, tennis ace Fatma al Nabhani, star athlete Barakat al Harthy, former national football team player Imad al Hosni, Paralympic icon Mohammed al Mashaykhi, who won the first Olympic medal for the Sultanate of Oman in athletics, and diver Omar al Ghailani. Other ambassadors are Dr Athra al Maawali, social media personality Mohammed al Nawfali and sports commentator Khalil al Balushi.
Former Oman and Bolton Wanderers goalkeeper Ali al Habsi said the school sports is an area which requires greater attention at these times.
“Sports should be promoted in a great manner through schools not only for finding future sports talents but also for all to follow a healthy lifestyle. I think, this strategy by the OSSA works well for the bright future of the country,” the football icon told Oman Observer.
Oman sprint star Barakat was ecstatic to join the ambassadors list.
“I had started my athletics career in my school. So, I feel honoured to be an ambassador for the school sports body. I will give my best contribution towards the role,” the athlete, who recently won medals at the Islamic Games in Turkey, said.
Tennis star Fatma also offered her best support for the vision.
“I’m honoured to be a sports ambassador for the OSSA. It is a privilege to help the upcoming student talents and give proper recognition for sports in schools,” she said.
Hisham bin Salem al Adwani, OSSA Vice-President and head of the strategy work team, made a presentation on the new strategy.
The OSSA had taken consideration of the stakeholders from the school sports field and partners before framing the strategy.
“We had assessed the infrastructure of the stadiums, and the challenges faced by students and teachers in sports were reviewed. The team analysed the reality of the sports committees in the governorates, the OSSA’s internal and external activities at the regional level and the international practices in school sports. An intense study of international practices in organising school sports events through Gulf, Arab, Asian and international experiences was also made.
NEW LOGO
The OSSA’s new logo was launched, which consists of the shield shape symbolising sports and corresponds to the vision of the association.
The OSSA letters of Oman School Sports Association, symbolises the entity of the federation as a sports institution and all the activities and programmes that it implements for students and teachers in all governorates of the Sultanate of Oman and for all sports, games, activities, training courses, awareness and health campaigns related to physical activity, movement and sports.
The logo bears gradations of red colour and symbolises passion, ambition, national identity, giving, motivation and perseverance.
At the conclusion of the ceremony, the minister honoured the strategy work team: Hisham bin Salem al Adwani, head of the team, Fahd bin Khalfan al Mashaykhi, Vice-President and members Dr Sulaiman bin Ali al Balushi, Abdullah bin Saeed al Qaedi, Khalid bin Ali al Riyami, Asaad bin Mubarak al Hassani,
Mubarak bin Khamis al Hamdani, Safa bint Saif al Salmiya, Dr Mansour bin Sultan al Touqi, Dr Nasser bin Yasir al Rawahi, Dr Ali Abdulrahman Al Bakri al Yafei.
The OSSA’s strategic partners are OQ Group and Omantel.
The sponsoring companies included Tamkeen Investment, Bank Muscat, Barzman and Pocari Sweat.
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