Monday 27 / January / 2025
Muscat: On Friday evening, the Sultan Qaboos Youth Complex for Culture and Entertainment in Salalah celebrated the opening of the Arab Junior Athletics Championship for male and female youth, hosted by the Sultanate of Oman to be held over a duration of four days.
The opening ceremony was sponsored by His Highness Sayyid Marwan bin Turki Al Said, Governor of Dhofar, in the presence of His Excellency Sheikh Mohammed bin Saif Al Busaidi, Governor of Salalah, General Supervisor of the Championship, and Dr. Habib Ali Al Rabaan, President of the Arab Athletics Federation.
A total of 430 male and female players representing 17 Arab countries will participate in the tournament, during which they will compete in various athletics competitions held on the fields of the Sultan Qaboos Youth Complex for Culture and Entertainment in Salalah and the Salalah Sports Complex.
Sheikh Salem bin Saeed Al Amri, President of the Omani Athletics Federation and Chairman of the Championship Organising Committee, delivered a speech in which he pointed out that hosting such competitions contributes all work crews gaining administrative and coordination experience. He stressed that various institutions from the Sultanate of Oman have made adequate preparations for this Arab sporting event.
Dr. Habib Ali Al-Rabaan, President of the Arab Athletics Federation, pointed out that the Sultanate of Oman’s hosting of this championship shows support for Arab youth to continue to excel and advance Arab athletics, pointing out that the Sultanate of Oman’s qualified human competencies and integrated infrastructure will enable the success of such sports competitions.
The opening ceremony included musical performances by the Royal Army of Oman, the delegations participating in the tournament, and the announcement by His Highness Sayyid Marwan bin Turki Al Said, Governor of Dhofar, of the official launch of the tournament, in addition to an operetta that included paintings of traditional Omani arts and an introduction to the tournament’s slogan.
Also witnessed on Friday evening was the honouring of a number of players and sports figures who have achieved advanced positions in athletics. Championship competitions began this morning and included qualifiers for a number of races that witnessed great competition between the participating teams.
