Muscat – Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth (MCSY) hosted the first-ever Amateur Sports Forum on Monday at Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex Bausher.

The two-day event aims to support and promote amateur sports in Oman, enhancing their representation both locally and internationally.

The forum officially opened under the patronage of H E Basil bin Ahmed al Rawas, Undersecretary for Sports and Youth Affairs in MCSY.

A ministry official informed that the forum is showcasing nine emerging sports disciplines, including Olympic and traditional archery, sepak takraw, pentaball, purebred Arabian saluki racing, netball, pickleball, Olympic boxing, wrestling and falconry.

The event is showcasing these lesser-known sports in Oman and offering detailed understanding of each. Competitive events in each sport will  assess participation levels in these while also generating interest.

Mohammed bin Saeed al Neyadi, Head of Amateur Sports Department and Supervisor of the event, said, “The forum brings together a selection of emerging sports in Oman that currently lack dedicated sports committees or federations.”

He added that the ministry is evaluating the feasibility and popularity of these sports. “If they prove to be popular, special committees may be established to manage these, with the possibility of organising these disciplines into independent federations in the future.”

The forum aims to promote and support these sports, attract a larger number of youth to participate, and cultivate a culture of sports among members of society.