Muscat – Oman is launching a national programme to identify and develop promising sporting talent, with the aim of creating a clear pathway for young athletes from early discovery to international competition.

The programme, being launched by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth, is one of the strategic projects under Oman Sports 2040. It will establish an integrated system for identifying talent across different sports, developing athletes’ abilities and providing the support needed to build a new generation of competitors.

H E Basil Ahmed Al Rawas, Undersecretary for Sports and Youth in the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth, said the programme would require close cooperation between educational institutions, sports federations, committees and clubs.

“The objectives of this national programme to support promising sporting talent require a participatory and integrated approach at every stage, with a clear pathway involving all relevant stakeholders,” H E Al Rawas said.

The ministry is also seeking public participation in naming the programme through a campaign under the slogan ‘The programme is national, and we choose the name together’. The public, athletes and sports enthusiasts can submit suggestions through an electronic form. The proposed name should reflect the programme’s national identity and be clear and easy to remember.

H E Al Rawas said effective cooperation would be essential to move from planning to implementation and strengthen the standing of Omani sport locally and internationally.

“The success of this national system depends on cooperation that serves the aspirations of Omani sport and strengthens its standing both locally and internationally,” he said.

The programme will also seek to strengthen links between the education and sports sectors and prepare athletes for regional and international competition.

It will be implemented in three phases: Foundation and Launch (2026), Activation and Expansion (2026-2030), and Empowerment and Sustainability (2030-2035).

Key components include a national supervisory committee, talent discovery centres across the governorates, the Sports Talent Discovery Licence Programme and an overseas scholarship programme for outstanding athletes.