Establishment of International Olympic Shooting Clubs to help preserve Omani heritage

Muscat: With the Royal Blessing of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik, the Supreme Commander, comes the establishment of International Olympic Shooting Clubs as one of the sports, social and educational establishments under the supervision of Oman Shooting Association with the purpose of preservation of the cultural heritage and encouragement of national youth to practice this vital sport.

International shooting sport is one of the Olympic sports exercised in most countries, worldwide, and is governed by the laws and regulations of the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) and targets unified management of shooting competitions, worldwide, for development of this sport.  

The establishment of these clubs aims to provide the national shooting team with the national youth of both genders to enable them to efficiently participate in the regional and international competitions and to build their characters in accordance with the instructions and teachings of Islam, besides training youngsters in the safe use of shooting weapons and for creation of clear systems for this sport.

It also aims to expand the sports base and disseminate the concept of the international Olympic shooting at the level of the Sultanate. Vice Admiral, Abdullah bin Khamis Al Raisi, Chief of Staff of the Sultan’s Armed Forces (SAF) said that “the Royal Blessing for establishment of International Olympic Shooting Clubs comes within the keenness of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik for provision of the appropriate environment for this cultural heritage and is consistent with the regulations and laws followed to this effect.

“The establishment of the clubs represents an opportunity for upgrading the level and skills of shooters and is also an opportunity for selection of the youth capable or representing the Sultanate in the regional competitions”.

He added that the “clubs are hoped to be the best place for the youth to exercise this sport”. He also reaffirmed the keenness and care of  the Sultan’s Armed Forces for this sport in the form of local training programmes and external camps and international and regional participations, which have resulted in achievement of excellent results that have contributed and added to the Sultanate’s status in the international arena.

He also laid stress on the necessity of for observing the instructions regulating the sport and the work of these clubs and employing all their facilities for the interest of the shooters.

Major general Mattar bin Salim Al Balushi, Commander of the Royal Army of Oman (RAO) and first vice-chairman of Oman Shooting Association congratulated SAF personnel and citizens for the Royal Blessing  of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik, the Supreme Commander, for the establishment of International Olympic Shooting Club in the Sultanate of Oman, which he said would meet the needs of the various sectors in the field of shooting, which in turn, represents an original cultural heritage of the Sultanate.

He said that the establishment of the clubs came on time and keeps abreast of the aspirations of the Sultanate’s shooters at the various levels. He said that the establishment of the clubs would motivate shooters to achieve high places in their participation in the international championships.

Major General Abdullah bin Ali Al Harthi, Assistant Inspector general for police and customs for operations and second vice-chairman of the board of Oman Shooting Association said that the establishment of the international Olympic private shooting clubs in the Sultanate would contribute to polishing the skills of the youth involved in the sport.