OOC AGM discusses selection criteria of national teams

Muscat, Mar 28

The General Assembly of Oman Olympic Committee (OOC) discussed several topics including the selection criteria for the national teams in different regional and international Olympic events and the challenges of financial budgets to achieve the actual breakthrough and the desired qualitative leap.

The Annual General Meeting (AGM) was held under the chairmanship of Khalid bin Mohammed al Zubair, at the Crowne Plaza Muscat OCEC, on Tuesday in presence of OOC board members and OOC General Assembly members.

Representatives of 27 sports associations and members attended the AGM while five members were absent. The meeting started with a speech of OOC chairman, he said:” OCC worked in many projects during the past months and aimed to develop and complete the institutional work system of the Oman Olympic Committee in the administrative, organisational, financial and technical aspects. Also, to establish a solid base for organised work and to achieve a qualitative performance of the Olympic Committee, enabling it to play its important roles alongside its partners in advancing the sports sector and the Omani Olympic movement in accordance with its terms of reference and the goals for which it was established nationally and internationally.”

The OOC chief added that many committees were established and headed by a number of board members with the membership of volunteer national candidates. “The regulating work of the committees has been developed and approved. These committees have drawn up their annual plans and started activating their various programmes within the limits of their available financial budgets,” he said.

He added: "In order to complete the organisational structure of the committee in accordance with international standards, a draft financial regulation has been developed for the Olympic Committee. It is one of the important regulations that did not exist previously. A draft regulation for the work of the Omani Committee for Athletes has also been developed, and it was drafted in accordance with the recommendations of the International Olympic Committee in this regard, and by following the best practices in this aspect.

BUDGET CHALLENGE

Khaled al Zubair pointed out that the financial budgets of the OOC represent the biggest challenge to achieve the actual breakthrough and the desired qualitative leap. “The changing of the work philosophy and developing the relationship between the various components of the Omani sports and Olympic movement are among our top priorities. The OOC is working on at this stage with the aim of making sports and Omani athletes at the highest level of priority in the work of the various sports bodies and concerned institutions.”

The chairman of OOC emphasised the committee’s keenness to place the supreme interest of athletes and national teams at the top of its priorities, and called on everyone to direct the largest percentage of the available resources to enhance care for athletes and support plans. He hopes the support will enable the athletes to raise the flag of the Sultanate of Oman high in the upcoming international sports events.

Later, the minutes of the previous meeting of the General Assembly was approved the members. Then, the members reviewed the annual report which includes a report on the administrative status and activities of the committee for the year ending 2022 which featured many domestic and external events, the most important business and administrative decisions. The financial reports of year 2022 was reviewed by the members while the proposed 2023 budget was approved by the General Assembly with a recommendation of raising the budget figures towards enabling OOC to achieve the desired targets from the set plans.

During the meeting, the members discussed on the criteria selection for the national teams in different regional and international Olympic events. OOC officials responded that there is a follow-up and planning committee which is responsible for the selection of the teams to represent the country in the regional and international Olympic committee. There is a technical committees as well to study the request of the national team’s plans and goals in this participation. After an intensive study, the proper recommendation will be taken towards participation of that national team in any external event.

Oman Volleyball Association representative Dr Mohammed al Mamari, raised an inquiry of providing a financial support for the volleyball beach team to reach in top world ranking teams as they are placed in 29th position currently. The OOC chief responded that due to limitation of OOC’s budget, the required support cannot be provided by OOC but will work hard with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth to find a suitable budget for that.