Oman Sports Conference and Exhibition to focus on sports administration and youth development

Muscat: Sports administration and finance, and youth development will be major subjects of discussion when the Ministry of Sports Affairs hosts the 2016 Oman Sports Conference and Exhibition in April.
The annual event, to be organised by the Ministry of Sports Affairs General Directorate of Sports Development and Welfare, will this year be hosted as two separate programmes - the conference and the exhibition.
According to Fahd Al Raisi, Director General of Sports Development and Welfare, this year’s events will take place from April 18 to 21 starting with the conference.
Speaking at a press conference organised at the Ministry of Sports Affairs Headquarters on Monday, Fahd Al Raisi said: “This year we will start with the conference on April 18. This is our fourth edition of the conference and it will be a one day affair to be organised at Grand Hyatt.”
Stating that conference will be of higher level than the previous years, he said: “This year’s conference will be different and we trying to take it to the next ‘higher’ level in terms of the themes, objectives, the speakers and participants.”
“This year’s conference will focus on three major areas - sports administration, financing and funding in sports sector and development of youth sector,” he said.
“Each of these three sessions, will have three speakers - all big names in their field, and there will be host of other presenters both local and international,” he informed without revealing the names of the personalities expected to present their papers and deliver the lectures.
He also revealed that the Ministry of Sports Affairs has roped in Oman International Trading Establishment (OITE) Exhibitions to co-ordinate the organisation of this year’s exhibition.
“This year’s exhibition will run from April 19 to 21 at the Oman International Exhibition Centre. The exhibits will be spread across 600 square metres and will include those from Oman, the gulf region and beyond.”
“We are trying to involve as many Omani sports bodies as possible. Besides that there will be a host of international organisations and companies at the exhibition,” he added.
Giving further details of local participation, he said: “From within Oman, there will be around 40 sports bodies - including associations, clubs and various committees - exhibiting and marketing their services and facilities.”
While starting that Ministry’s plan is to involve as many private sector organisations as possible, he said: “There will also be a Fun Zone, the main objective of which is to ‘exhibit’ different local aspects, including Omani traditional sports and create an awareness in a fun environment.”
Dynamic exhibition
Meanwhile, Tarek Ali, General Manager of OITE Exhibitions, said this year’s event will be a ‘very dynamic exhibition’ that will not only bring international expertise into the Sultanate but also promote Oman, country’s sports and the facilities.
“The sports exhibition will be held concurrently with Ministry of Higher Education’s Oman Higher Education Summit and GHEDEX Exhibition. So there will be more attention and it will also attract those who come for the other exhibitions, especially the youth.”
Stating that OITE is delighted to be associated with the event, he said: “A lot of international sports companies have shown interest and add to that the local participation, it will be a very diverse portfolio from each sector. And most importantly the exhibition will provide an opportunity to share ideas and concepts.”
“It is also a great opportunity to promote Oman as an ideal sporting destination with it’s excellent infrastructure facilities,” he added.