Muscat - Absence of adequate infrastructure befitting sports sector is affecting the country’s ambitious plans to become a sports tourism destination in the region and beyond, according to Christoph Schleissing, General Manager of Millennium Resort Mussanah.
Speaking to the Observer on the sidelines of the Muscat Triathlon, Christoph said the country is blessed with a large number of factors that have potential to catapult the country to be one of the most sought after destinations for the sports aficionados, sufficient infrastructure not being present in the country is a major drawback.
“Although there have been substantial efforts from a cross-section of authorities and private organisations, sports tourism is still not grown as we all desired. I hope having the best infrastructure befitting international sports arena would change the rules of the game and take the country to the top tourism destinations globally,” Christoph said.
Oman is a country with year-round sunlight and diverse terrain and vast beaches complemented with majority youth population and what not. However, giving a fillip to the yearning sports sector can fetch the desired results in due course of time. And it’s just a matter of time before the nation has marked its place in the global sports map.
“Oman is known not just for football or sailing alone. We have athletes with great potential and grooming them to be the future sports stars would require having a sound set of facilities for the same,” he added.
Oman has earlier hosted Asian Beach Games besides the Tour of Oman which takes place along with the Muscat Festival, and sailing events. However, the world-class sailing events, anticipated F1 race, tennis star Fatma al Nabhani, racer Ahmed al Harthy, Spartan race, and the great fillip received by cricket in the country are giving hope to the country to be marked in the map of regional as well as global sports events, according to him.
Kabeer Yousuf
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