MUSCAT, DEC 18
As part of its annual strategy aimed at strengthening the Sultanate of Oman’s presence in skating sports and developing ice hockey at both regional and continental levels, the Oman Skating Sports Committee (OSSC) is participating on Friday in the Asian Ice Hockey Federation meeting, hosted by Thailand from December 19 to 21, with the participation of representatives from member national federations and committees of the Asian federation.
The Omani committee is represented at the meeting by Saud bin Nasser al Aufi, OSSC Chairman, and Qasim bin Talib al Burai, Supervisor of Ice Sports. This participation comes within the committee’s broader approach to reinforcing its active role within the Asian ice hockey framework and keeping pace with the latest technical and administrative developments related to the sport.
Saud al Aufi emphasised that the importance of the committee’s participation stems from the fact that the meeting is included in its annual calendar, noting that it serves as an important platform to discuss development strategies for ice hockey in the region. The meeting also addresses the competition calendar, championships and training courses organised by the International Ice Hockey Federation through its Asian branch, with the participation of all members of the Asian federation.
Al Aufi explained that Oman seeks, during this meeting, to discuss the upcoming Asian Federation Championship in 2026, in addition to development programmes related to officiating and coaching. He stressed that the committee is working to enhance the sport across all administrative and technical aspects, particularly in light of the noticeable expansion of its participant base across various age groups.
The OSSC chairman noted that Oman is considered one of the active countries that have shown early interest in this emerging sport in the region. The committee works in cooperation with relevant bodies at both the Gulf and regional levels. He added that despite the relative novelty of ice hockey in Oman, the sport has achieved a respectable presence through participation in various championships, training courses and continental and international meetings.
Al Aufi further stated that the committee is moving forward with clear steps to establish its footprint in the sport by fulfilling international membership requirements, foremost among them regular participation in international forums, alongside parallel efforts to develop the domestic side. At the forefront of these efforts is the project to establish an international-standard ice rink, which would enable Oman to host regional, Asian and international championships in the future.
He concluded by affirming that these steps will directly contribute to the growth of various skating sports in the Sultanate, particularly ice hockey, in line with the aspirations of the next phase. He will further strengthen Oman’s position on the Asian winter sports map.
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