MUSCAT: The inaugural Muscat Grand Prix – World Athletics Continental Tour Bronze is set to mark a significant milestone for Omani athletics, with Muscat preparing to welcome athletes from around the world on September 5 at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex.
Organised by the Oman Athletics Association (OAA) in direct collaboration with World Athletics, the one-day international meeting is expected to bring together around 300 athletes, including approximately 100 Omani athletes, in a wide-ranging programme featuring sprinting, middle-distance races, hurdles, relay events, jumps and throwing competitions. The event will not only provide a high-level competitive platform for athletes but also represents an important step in Oman’s ambition to strengthen its position on the international sports map and establish Muscat as a destination for major athletics events.
Major General (Ret) Said bin Mohammed al Hajri, Chairman of the Oman Athletics Association and Event Director, said the association had been working intensively to complete the technical, organisational and logistical preparations required for the event. “This is the first-Grand Prix-of-its-kind to be held in Muscat and we are very pleased to organise this prestigious event in direct collaboration with the World Athletics. We expect around 300 athletes from different parts of the world, including around 100 athletes from the Sultanate of Oman,” Al Hajri told Oman Observer.
NEW CHAPTER
The competition programme will feature 22 events for men, women and the Under-20 category, covering a broad range of athletics disciplines. The programme will include the 100m, 110m hurdles, 200m, 300m, 400m, 800m, Under-20 800m, 3,000m and 4x100m relay, alongside hammer throw, shot put, javelin throw, long jump and triple jump. The Muscat event will form part of the World Athletics Continental Tour Bronze series, followed by an international challenge competition within the recognised World Athletics global circuit. This will provide participating athletes with opportunities to earn valuable ranking points and strengthen their qualification prospects for major international championships.
For Oman, the significance goes beyond hosting another sporting competition. Al Hajri described the inaugural Grand Prix as a strategic step towards establishing Oman as an active host within the global athletics calendar. “Hosting the first edition of the Grand Prix represents a qualitative step for Omani sport. It is not simply a competition; it is an announcement that the Sultanate of Oman has entered the global athletics scene and has the capability to become an active part of the international competition system,” he said.
He added that the event would demonstrate Oman’s organisational and human capabilities in hosting major international sporting events while showcasing the country’s hospitality and ability to welcome athletes, officials and spectators.
INTERNATIONAL PARTICIPATION
The meeting is expected to attract athletes from Asia, Africa and Europe, including competitors with strong records in sprinting, middle-distance events and field disciplines. Al Hajri stressed that the inclusion of the competition within the World Athletics circuit gives it significant technical importance. “The diversity of the programme, covering sprints, middle-distance races, relays, jumps and throws, provides a comprehensive competitive platform for athletes. Over recent months, the association has worked to prepare the track, facilities and supporting infrastructure in line with international standards,” he said.
The OAA has also coordinated with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth (MoCSY), security and tourism authorities and other relevant institutions to ensure that the event meets the required organisational and technical standards. Preparations include the competition track, timing systems, judging arrangements, athlete facilities and logistical services for participating delegations.
The Muscat Grand Prix will also provide a major opportunity for Omani athletes to compete alongside international competitors on home soil. Al Hajri believes this exposure will play an important role in the development of the national team. “Competing against athletes with world-class standards gives our athletes experience that cannot be gained except through participation in events of this level. The ranking points available through the competition are also important and could open opportunities for our athletes to compete in bigger continental and international championships,” he said.
The association is also using the event as an opportunity to develop the wider athletics ecosystem by preparing national coaches, judges and technical personnel through specialised workshops and courses held alongside the competition. The Grand Prix is also expected to provide an opportunity to identify emerging talent and support promising athletes as part of the association’s long-term development programmes.
PLATFORM FOR TOURISM
The significance of the Muscat Grand Prix extends beyond the athletics track, with the OAA viewing the event as part of Oman’s broader efforts to use sport as a platform for tourism promotion, international visibility and economic development. Al Hajri said hosting international sporting events was closely aligned with the objectives of Oman Vision 2040, particularly in developing human capabilities, promoting tourism and strengthening Oman’s international profile.
“Sport has become an influential element in economic and tourism development, and we believe in its ability to promote Oman internationally. We also aspire to host larger competitions in the coming years, eventually reaching the stage of organising global events that further strengthen the Sultanate of Oman’s presence on the international sports map,” he said.
The OAA prepared a promotional and fan-engagement programme for the event, including media campaigns, affordable ticketing and accompanying activities featuring sports and tourism exhibitions and family-oriented entertainment programmes.
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