Snow Oman honours Omani Special Olympics champions
This tribute was in recognition of the outstanding achievement by the Omani delegation, which included six athletes with intellectual disabilities who competed in three winter sports during the Games held in Turin, Italy, from March 8 to 15. The team earned a total of seven medals: one gold, two silvers and four bronzes.
The collaboration with Snow Oman played a crucial role in the success of the team's preparation.
Athlete Husam al Amri won the gold medal in the 300-metre speed skating race and a silver medal in the 200-metre event of the same sport. Meanwhile, Al Bara al Battashi secured a silver in the 100-metre Cross Country Skiing race. The bronze medals were earned by Ritaj al Salmi in the 200-metre and 100-metre speed skating events, Al Batashi added another bronze in snowshoeing and Amira al Raisi won bronze in the 200-metre Snowshoeing event.
Olivier Saez, during the ceremony said: 'We're thrilled to welcome you back to Snow Oman, your training home and now the place celebrating your incredible achievements. Your determination, heart and resilience have been truly inspiring. You didn't just win medals —you brought back powerful stories of courage and growth that moved us all. To the coaches, thank you for your dedication. You've shaped confident individuals ready to take on life beyond the Games. This milestone reflects hard work, commitment and belief. Snow Oman is proud to have supported your journey. Together, we continue building a future where inclusion in sport is the norm, not the exception. At Majid Al Futtaim, we believe in sport's power to break barriers and create opportunities for all.'
Husam al Amri won the gold medal in the 300-metre speed skating race and a silver in the 200-metre event of the same race.
Khamis al Muqbali, Sports Director at Special Olympics Oman, emphasised that the participation was filled with challenges and achievements, noting that the Omani delegation consisted of 21 members including athletes, coaches and team leaders, with six athletes competing in three winter sports. He said, 'The competitions saw a world-class level of participation, but our athletes managed to prove their capabilities and achieve honourable results.'
He pointed out that the collaboration with Snow Oman played a crucial role in the success of the team's preparation, stating, 'They provided us with the right facilities and equipment and were true partners in the training process. This greatly helped us adapt to the winter sports environment, which is vastly different from our usual Gulf climate.'
The team included six athletes with intellectual disabilities who competed in three winter sports.
Al Muqbali also praised the significant role of parents in supporting their children, through their dedication to attending training sessions and constantly motivating the athletes, affirming that this support was a key factor in the team's success.
He extended his gratitude to the Board of Directors of Special Olympics Oman, National Director Nabeel al Harthi and the coaches for their efforts in supporting the athletes.
He concluded by highlighting the Special Olympics' plans to expand the base of sports practitioners across the Sultanate of Oman, with initiatives including local championships in sports such as table tennis, equestrian and swimming; and organising regular competitions at designated training centres. He also noted the programme's regional accomplishments, such as hosting the Gulf Athletics Championship at Ibri Sports Complex in 2023 and expressed aspirations for more tournaments in the future to develop skills and enhance the level of Omani athletes.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Observer
a day ago
- Observer
Queiroz proud to lead Oman as new coach
MUSCAT: The newly appointed head coach Carlos Queiroz expressed his deep sense of pride and responsibility in leading Oman's national senior football team, calling it a 'great gratitude and huge honour' to be entrusted with such a role. This statement was part of his first official interview published in different channels of the social media accounts of Oman Football Association (OFA) following his appointment and official signing function which took place earlier this week at OFA headquarter in Seeb Stadium. The veteran Portuguese tactician highlighted during the interview passionately about his ambitions, strategic approach and message to Oman's audience and fans. Acknowledging the challenges that lie ahead, Queiroz stated in his initial remarks, 'I understand it is a huge challenge and it is not an easy task. However, it can be better challenge through our work and clear commitment. In my definition, it could be easy and simple as well. At the end of the challenges, you will feel the sweat as the reward after achieving the target through hard work in smart way.' As Red Warriors are gearing up for the decisive final round of the AFC Asian Qualifiers – Road to the Fifa World Cup 2026, Queiroz outlined his roadmap to success. ' My plan is to study the current situation thoroughly by reviewing the team, assessing the players, gathering detailed information about our opponents beside building the best preparation plan for our squad. In addition to that, Smart planning, clear goals, team discipline, and ambition will form the core of the best technical strategy, ' he added Coach Queiroz also delivered a heartfelt message to the Omani fans, calling on them to become an active force in the team's journey. 'Be the player No. 12. Wear the national team shirt not only during matches but also during training moments. You are the power behind the team.' Carlos Queiroz, who signed a one-year contract with OFA earlier this week, will bring with him a wealth of global coaching experience. Under his leadership, Red Warriors will enter the forthcoming playoff stage of the Asian qualifiers — Road to 26 with top ambitious as Oman aim for its first-ever appearance at the Fifa World Cup. A press conference has been scheduled for the new coach and his assisting team on August 5 where Coach Queiroz will unveil his full technical program and plans leading up to October's qualifiers.
Observer
a day ago
- Observer
OTA launches intensive summer training in Egypt
MUSCAT: As part of the Oman Tennis Association's (OTA) efforts to prepare players for international competitions and enhance their technical levels, 14 male and female players are currently participating in a summer training camp in the Arab Republic of Egypt. This camp is part of the association's comprehensive preparation program, which targets various age groups. The camp will be conducted in two phases. The first phase runs from July 26 to August 15, while the second phase will be held from August 2 to 15. The training sessions are hosted at the 'Shamas Tennis Club Academy,' which is recognised as one of the top training institutions in the region. This camp falls under the association's broader strategy, led by President Mutasim al Zadjali, to develop and refine the skills of national team players, with the goal of enabling them to compete effectively in regional and international tournaments and increase their continental and global ranking points. The first phase includes players from the Under-14 and Under-18 categories. The Under-14 roster features Azan al Busaidy, Moataz al Mazrouei, Abdulrahman al Rahbi, Talia al Busaidy, Areen al Azkawi, and Salma al Riyami. This group is specifically preparing for the Arab Tennis Championship, which will take place in Tunisia from August 16 to 24, 2025. In the Under-18 category, participants include Waleed al Hashmi and Aisha al Busaidy. The delegation is overseen by coach Sarah al Balushi from the Oman Tennis Association (OTA). The second phase includes players in the Under-10 and Under-12 categories: Omar al Shaibani, Hatem al Rahbi, Hood al Hashmi, Mundhir al Amri, Imad al Rahbi, and Reema al Hashmi. The training programme at the Shamas Tennis Club Academy includes both morning and evening sessions, five days a week (Sunday through Thursday). It focuses on technical, physical, and mental development, including skill drills, physical fitness, cognitive exercises, friendly matches, and nutrition sessions under expert supervision. Mundhir al Barwani, Secretary-General of the Oman Tennis Association (OTA), stated that the association has consistently organised such training camps annually due to their significant role in enhancing players' technical abilities and preparing them to represent the national teams effectively. He emphasised that age-group players, especially those under 14, benefit from these preparatory programmes. He noted that the current camp serves as preparation for the upcoming Arab Championship in Tunisia and confirmed that the remaining players will also have opportunities to compete in upcoming regional and international events. Al Barwani also highlighted the association's commitment to developing national team players by increasing their international exposure and organising high-quality training camps that help refine their talents. He added that Omani teams have participated in several international tournaments across various age groups recently and are preparing for upcoming challenges. He concluded by expressing the association's intention to host more tournaments, building on the successful organisation of several events in past years.
Observer
3 days ago
- Observer
Al Siyabi leads FIBA U-18 final in China
MUSCAT: Omani international basketball referee Issam bin Nasser al Siyabi officiated the final match of the FIBA U-18 Women's Asia Cup held in China, which brought together the national teams of Australia and Japan. The match ended with an 88–79 victory for Australia, crowning them continental champions. The tournament took place from July 13 to 20 and featured top national teams from across Asia. Al Siyabi was selected to referee the final as a recognition of his outstanding performance throughout the tournament. He had previously officiated the semifinal between Australia and South Korea, as well as the quarterfinal match between Japan and New Zealand. During the group stage, he also officiated high-profile matches, including Lebanon vs. the Philippines, Korea vs. China, New Zealand vs. Korea, and Australia vs. the Philippines. With an extensive refereeing career at both regional and international levels, Al Siyabi has previously participated in the second round of the FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers held in Bahrain in 2020. He has also refereed in the finals of the Bahraini and Qatari leagues, Gulf championships for men, youth, and juniors, in addition to prominent tournaments such as the Dubai International Basketball Championship and the Shaikh Khalifa Cup in Bahrain. His experience underscores the competence and growing reputation of Omani officiating on the global stage. Commenting on the achievement, Al Siyabi expressed his pride, saying "officiating the final of a major tournament like the FIBA U-18 Women's Asia Cup is a very significant milestone in my refereeing career. I'm extremely proud to represent Oman at such a prestigious continental event. This achievement is the result of years of hard work and dedication across local, regional, and international competitions." "Refereeing in such tournaments demands a high level of focus and both physical and mental effort. The diverse experiences I've gained from Gulf, Arab, and international tournaments have helped me manage games with confidence and consistency." He added Al Siyabi concluded by thanking the Oman Basketball Association for its continuous support, as well as his fellow referees, noting that this participation will serve as a strong motivation to further develop his performance and continue representing Oman in more international championships.
