Thursday 18 / April / 2024
Muscat: There weren’t many precious moments for Oman in the Rio Olympics, but an Omani national has taken the Sultanate’s name to another level not as a competitor but as a referee.
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Ahmed Al Balushi, a basketball referee from Oman has officiated in eight games at the Rio Olympics in the first round and the quarter final of the basketball event.
“Participation in this event is an ambition and dream of each referee. It is an opportunity to gain experience and expertise as well as contacts with different referees from all the continents of the world, and benefit from the officiating in a high-level match,” Al Balushi told the Times of Oman in an email interview.
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The 41-year-old Al Balushi is the first Olympic basketball referee from the Sultanate and third Olympic referee after Mohamed al Mousawi and Abdullah al Hilali. They officiated in the football events in the Atlanta and Beijing Olympic Games, respectively, according to a report. Al Balushi’s appointment was based on his impressive performance in the Gulf and Asian competitions last year.
He has been elected as one of the officials in the International Basketball Federation (FIBA)’s Asia Challenge in Iran which will begin next month.
Most important element
The most important element that a referee should rely on is developing arbitration skills, according to Al Balushi.
“The most important element that a referee could be relied upon in developing himself is working on the development of arbitration skills and self-confidence, and not to despair,” Al Balushi said.
“On the other hand, we have to create opportunities for self-development such as seminars, camps and attend tournaments,” he added.
The level of basketball games level in the Sultanate does not offer opportunities to improve the skills of a referee, according to Al Balushi.
“The level of basketball games in the Sultanate does not give full opportunity to improve the level of referees, so it is necessary to find other elements of alternative development,” he asserted.
Al Balushi was a sports teacher, and later in 1995 he attended the basketball referees course, after which he decided to be a basketball referee.
Speaking about the future of basketball in Oman, Al Balushi said, “The future of basketball in Oman is very difficult because of the lack of support and the limited number of players and clubs interested in it.
“We need financial support as well as administrative and technical plans for the future to support the game in schools and clubs, and to improve stadiums and sport facilities,” he added.
Right now, he is the secretary general of the Oman School Sports Association.
He was also a football coach and he has the coaching licence from the Asian Football Confederation.
Previously, Al Balushi had officiated in the U-17 World Championship for Women in the Czech Republic in 2014.
