Oman Sport Toward New Horizon



His Majesty Sultan Qaboos has surprised the youth of Oman when declared the creation of the Ministry of Sport Affairs. By this new governmental structure, His Majesty is providing a vision to place the country in the next decade among the best sporting nations in the world in term of sport delivery system. A quick review of the recent history, it is clear that several decisions have been taken to enhance the role of sport in the country. Educationally, Oman is one of the few nations in the Middle East that included physical education as compulsory model in school curriculum. Sport clubs are been integrated and joined for the purpose of reducing their numbers and increase their delivery capabilities, they also were allowed to be involved in commercial activities. In addition, sport associations and the Oman Olympic Committee (OOC) are planed to be developed to a more democratic and transparency managerial structures so that they can better serve the sporting movement. More over, the change of the sport organization structure from a small department in the Ministry of Education in the 1970s, to the creation of a High Organization of Youth and Sport Activities in the early 1990s and now the establishment of the Ministry of Sport Affairs in the new millennium is a clear message from His Majesty and the government directing the nation toward seeking a new horizon of sport in Oman. The vision of the new horizon shell be to increase the level of performance in three main directions: ( More People, More Medals, and More International Sport Events) . More people means to increase the number of people participating actively in sport events whether recreational or competitive sport aiming towards making the nation active and adopting a healthy life style. Increasing the number of people is associated with enhancing the quality human resources responsible for sport delivery. Technicians like coaches, referees, sport doctors, physiotherapies and sport administrators should be guided with policies that are clear from clientalism or any sense of discrimination and seek to establish an environment suitable for expanding sport industry and create new jobs in the labor market. By more medals we refer to the increase of Oman opportunity in gaining international medals. But this should be initiated by raising the level of sport performance and competition internally between and among the regions before raising any expectations for international participation. National league and competitions should be strongly supported, sponsored and promoted. By more international sport events, we mean the ministry should seek aggressively to host international sport events in Oman , which undoubtedly, will help to boost tourism industry, attract foreign investors, and raise the level of competition in the country. This will provide the base for professional sport system to be established and developed. Oman citizens, male and female, elderly and youth are welcoming the royal decry and they are ready to serve the nation in the best of their abilities. A call is also directed upon the privet sector to support this government initiative and participate in the root toward the new horizon for Oman sport