MUSCAT: Yesterday morning (Sunday) marked the launch of the first phase of the Programme for Promoting Olympic Culture and Values (Olympic Values Torch Tour in the Sultanate of Oman), organised by Oman Olympic Committee (OOC), represented by Oman Olympic Academy (OOA), in cooperation with Olympic Solidarity. This initiative comes as part of ongoing efforts to reinforce the principles of the Olympic Movement and enhance its presence within society.
The programme commenced with its first workshop held yesterday at the Special Economic Zone Authority at Duqm. The programme will continue across several governorates in Oman. The remaining workshops of the first phase will take place at the Directorate General of Culture, Sports, and Youth in Al Sharqiyah North Governorate over two days starting today, followed by sessions at Sultan Qaboos University on Wednesday and Thursday. This is part of a structured timeline aimed at reaching various segments of society.
The programme is considered one of the key projects supported by International Olympic Committee. It utilises educational materials and guides from the Olympic Values Education Programme issued by Olympic Solidarity. The initiative contributes to strengthening Olympic values and principles among young athletes, students, and youth of all ages and educational levels, through sports practices that emphasise learning and applying behavioural, educational, and ethical principles endorsed by International Olympic Committee.
The programme is delivered by lecturer Hisham bin Salim al Adwani, Programme Director, and is supervised by Dr Ishaq bin Ahmed al Balushi, OOA Director. It targets a broad audience, including athletes, coaches, teachers, and national personnel working in sports institutions, federations, clubs, academies, and community teams. This wide outreach aims to maximise impact and promote the spread of Olympic culture across different environments.
The programme is divided into two main components. The first focuses on training Olympic Values Education trainers by preparing and qualifying “future trainers” through programmes that combine theoretical and practical aspects. The second component centres on Olympic culture and values initiatives, encouraging participants to apply the knowledge and skills they have acquired within their professional environments, whether in schools, clubs, or sports centres.
The implementation mechanism involves training participants over two consecutive days, during which they are introduced to the history, values, and symbols of the Olympic Movement, alongside practical activities that simulate the application of Olympic values in real-life situations. This is followed by a two-month field application phase, where participants independently implement their initiatives. These initiatives are later evaluated, and the top three projects are selected based on criteria such as innovation, sustainability, and feasibility.
This programme aligns with the characteristics of Omani society and the objectives OOC in supporting the Olympic Movement. It reinforces the concept of sport as a means of character building and values development, rather than merely competition, by promoting ideas such as joy of effort, striving for excellence, building friendships, and respect for rules and all elements of the sports system.
The programme also aims to expand its impact to include various educational and sports institutions, thereby strengthening the presence of OOC within the community and establishing collaborative relationships with entities involved in athlete development.
The project is being implemented in progressive stages across the governorates of Oman. It was previously carried out in 2024 in the governorates of Muscat, Al Dakhiliyah, Al Dhahirah, Al Batinah South, Al Batinah North, and Al Sharqiyah South. This year, it will be implemented in Muscat, Al Wusta, Al Sharqiyah North, Musandam, Dhofar, and Al Buraimi, as part of a comprehensive plan aimed at expanding benefits and ensuring the initiative’s sustainable impact.
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