MUSCAT: The Khareef Salalah Women’s Sport Forum kicked off in Salalah on Monday at the Hilton Hotel, Dhofar Governorate, under the theme “Together, we promote women’s sport”. Held under the patronage of Sheikha Naeema Al Ahmad Al Jabir Al Sabah, Chairman of GCC Women’s Sport Organising Committee, the forum organised by Oman Women’s Sport Committee of Oman Olympic Committee (OOC) in cooperation with the Salalah Tourist Festival 2018 Organizing Committee and Ministry of Sports Affairs was represented by the Women’s Sports Department.
The forum was attended by Her Highness Sayyidah Sanaa bint Hamad Al Busaidi, Chairman of Oman Women’s Sport Committee; Taha bin Sulaiman Al Kishry, OOC Secretary General; Sheikh Badr bin Ali Al Rawas, OOC Board Member; the Chairman of Oman Women’s Society; several Omani female athletes; a host of female coaches and administrators; members of sports committees; and a number of officials at the Ministry of Sports Affairs and male and female stakeholders at the level of the Sultanate.
The forum is aimed at highlighting the achievements made by Omani women, reviewing some Omani and GCC stories and experiences in the field of women’s sport, exchanging experiences and knowledge in this field and underscoring the relationship between sport and tourism.
Sayyidah Sanaa bint Hamad Al Busaidi, in her speech to the congregation referred to the particular at-tention and care being accorded by His Majesty Sultan Qaboos to women’s sport. She further focused on the many achievements made by Omani women in various fields, particularly in sport and sports ad-ministration as well as at the level of the Sultanate and local, Arab and regional levels.
“The Khareef Salalah Women’s Sport Forum comes as part of the Salalah Tourist Festival in emphasis of the significance of sport. We seek through this forum to shed light on the axes having relationship with women’s sport, the aim being to enrich women and provide them with the necessary sports knowledge with the ultimate goal of developing and uplifting the standard of female athletes and assisting them to pursue the methods and approaches that enable them to continue exercising sport in a proper manner and maintain their physical fitness and high performance”, Sayyidah Sanaa pointed out.
Sayyidah Sanaa concluded her speech by expressing her thanks and appreciation to Oman Olympic Committee and the Ministry of Sports Affairs for their continuing support to Oman Women’s Sport Committee and the Salalah Tourist Festival Management and Dhofar Municipality and other sponsors for their support and cooperation to make this forum a success.
In her address to the forum, Sheikha Naeema Al Ahmad Al Jabir Al Sabah reviewed Kuwait’s experi-ence in the field of women’s sport. The first working paper was presented by Maryam bint Saif Al Hos-niyah, member of Omen Women’s Sport Committee, under the title “Oman women’s sport and wom-en’s teams”. She reviewed the major sports events and activities in which Oman Women’s Sport Committee has participated since its official inception in 2005, the committee’s terms of reference and the plans and future objectives that the committee aspires to achieve.
On the other hand, Sheikh Khalid bin Muhammad Al Zubair, Chairman of Oman Olympic Committee, congratulated Sayyidah Sanaa bint Hamad Al Busaidiyah, Chairman of Oman Women’s Sport Commit-tee, for receiving the Achievement Diploma presented to her by the International Olympic Committee for her achievements in the field of women’s sport and in recognition of her efforts and constructive con-tribution to promoting equality between genders in sport. This recognition reflects the active presence of Omani women and their ability to make achievements in various spheres of work and contribution. Taha bin Sulaiman Al Kishry, OOC Secretary General, also congratulated Sayyidah Sanaa and members of the Oman Women’s Sport Committee, for this great achievement wishing them further progress and success in this field.