Muscat: The 2nd phase of the "Training of Coaches on Olympic Values Education" program, organized by Oman Olympic Committee (OOC) through the Oman Olympic Academy in cooperation with International Olympic Solidarity, has commenced. The 1st workshop was held in South Al Batinah Governorate on Monday and Tuesday, with the 2nd workshop concluding today, Thursday, at the Directorate of Culture, Sports, and Youth in North Al Batinah Governorate. The 3rd workshop will be held at the Directorate of Culture, Sports, and Youth in South Al Sharqiyah Governorate on Sunday and Monday of the upcoming week.
This program is part of the project to promote Olympic culture and values, one of the key initiatives supported by IOC. The program utilizes books and guidelines from the International Olympic Solidarity's Olympic Values Education Program (OVEP) and aims to enhance the Olympic principles and values among young athletes, students, and youth of various ages and educational levels. This is achieved through sports activities that foster the learning and application of the behavioural and educational values endorsed by IOC.
The importance of the project lies in expanding the scope and target groups of OOC in supporting the Olympic movement in Oman. It focuses on schools, clubs, academies, sports centers, and even local teams where athletes are developed, establishing a strong connection between OOC and the sports community.
The programme is delivered by Hisham bin Salem Al-Adwani, the project director accredited by IOC, along with Dr. Ali bin Abdulrahman Al-Bakri, the programme's main lecturer.
The 1st phase of the program was organized in the Governorates of Muscat, Al Dakhiliyah, and Al Dhahirah between April 29 and May 6, 2024, with widespread participation from national sports professionals in institutions, sports bodies, clubs, academies, and local teams in Oman.
The project to promote Olympic culture and values in Oman is divided into two main programs: the Olympic Values Education Training Program and the Olympic Culture and Values Initiatives Program. The project will be implemented gradually across all governorates in Oman over two years (2024-2025) as the 1st phase, with an evaluation process planned before launching subsequent phases.
The project's core concept is to train a group of future trainers, selected through a process aligned with the goals of the Olympic Values Education Programme (OVEP), in a two-day theoretical and practical workshop. These sessions include program applications and guidance on how to utilize its resources and curriculum in line with the overall vision of IOC, while considering the Omani community's environment. Additionally, some local initiatives will be introduced to further enhance Olympic education in Oman. After their training, these accredited trainers will implement the knowledge and skills they have acquired within their respective schools, clubs, or centers over a period of three months. Their efforts will then be evaluated based on the best practices and initiatives, as documented through reports, photos, and videos submitted to the project director at OOC. A central committee will assess and select the top three local applications, considering criteria such as sustainability, innovation, and practical feasibility.