Latest news with #SportsSpark
Muscat Daily
20-07-2025
- Sport
- Muscat Daily
Largest indoor sports summer fiesta kicks off at OCEC
Muscat – Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre (OCEC) officially launched the third edition of Sports Spark, Oman's flagship indoor summer sports festival, with a grand opening ceremony on Thursday. Held under the patronage of Ahmed al Humaidi, Chairman of Muscat Municipality, the event being held in Exhibition Halls 1 and 2 started on July 18 and will end on August 16. Organised in collaboration with Muscat Governorate, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth, Omran Group and Sabco Sports, with sponsorship from Sohar International, the festival aims to promote fitness, community wellbeing and social engagement during the summer. Speaking about the launch, Said al Shanfari, CEO of OCEC, said, 'This edition places strong emphasis on accessibility and affordability. We want everyone – regardless of age and ability – to feel welcome and empowered to participate. Following the overwhelming success of last year's edition, which welcomed over 50,000 participants, Sports Spark 2025 is back with an even more dynamic and inclusive programme. This year's event aims to promote fitness, wellbeing and community engagement during the hot summer months in Oman by offering access to high-quality, air-conditioned facilities and a wide variety of sports and activities.' Sports Spark 2025 offers over 20 indoor sports, including football, basketball, volleyball, pickleball and badminton, with new additions like indoor golf and hockey. Facilities are available for booking at just RO2 per hour, making the event accessible for individuals, teams and clubs alike. Following the success of last year's edition, this year brings an expanded programme. Highlights include the return of Fight Night, debut of Muscat Night Run on August 1 in collaboration with Muscat Marathon, and the second season of the Phygital competition. The inaugural Football Academy Cup will feature 32 youth teams, while Ninja Obstacle Series launched this year promises thrilling challenges inspired by global obstacle races. Families can enrol children in the Sports Spark Summer Camp, while corporate groups can access wellness packages. The festival runs daily from 8am to 11pm. Details are available on
Observer
01-07-2025
- Sport
- Observer
Building Oman's sports economy from the ground up
In a recent article by Oman Observer about the Tejarah Talks podcast, Pankaj Khimji, Advisor for Foreign Trade & International Cooperation at MoCIIP, shared a thought that really stuck with me: 'Unless we develop our grassroots or sports culture, whether it's in schools, in the maydans, or on the beaches of Oman, unless we promote this in our families or schools, we're not going to be able to get into the real business of sports.' It's a powerful reminder. That quote—and the podcast episode as a whole—made me reflect on where we are as a country when it comes to sports. Yes, we're starting to attract major international events, but we must be equally ambitious in growing a culture of everyday sport and physical activity, especially for our children. In many ways, this reflects exactly what we try to do at the Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre (OCEC). Of course, we're proud to host international competitions—whether it was the FIFA World Cup screenings in our gardens in 2022 or the World Veteran Table Tennis Championships in 2023. But just as important are the everyday experiences: each summer, we transform our exhibition halls into an indoor sports hub, offering people a fun and affordable space to stay active and beat the heat. Oman is naturally made for sports tourism. We've seen how our sister companies, like Oman Sail, are leading the way with events such as the upcoming World Sailing Inclusion Championships in 2025. But none of this happens in isolation. We need everyone—event organisers, schools, businesses, hospitality partners, and tourism boards—to come together to build something bigger. We're fortunate to have a landscape that many countries envy: dramatic mountains, open beaches, warm winds, and a year-round climate perfect for all kinds of activity. But to truly take advantage of this, we need to engage the most important player: our communities. Getting children into sport isn't just about fitness. It's about teamwork. It's about leadership. It's about learning to stay focused, persevere, and enjoy the journey. And ultimately, it's about making sport a bigger part of our national identity—an investment that also helps us attract global events. That's why initiatives like Sports Spark matter. If we want to see Omani athletes on international podiums—or see Oman feature more prominently on the global sports calendar—it all starts with access. It starts with a child picking up a racket or kicking a ball in a space that welcomes them. From July 18 to August 16, OCEC will once again open its doors for people to play, move, and connect—with summer camps for kids, corporate challenges, tournaments, and more. It's not just about putting on an event. It's about creating access, building habits, and helping people discover what sport can do for them—physically, mentally, and socially. So if you haven't looked into it yet, now's the time. You might just find that it changes more than your summer—it could change your daily routine.
Muscat Daily
01-07-2025
- Sport
- Muscat Daily
Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre to host sports activities during summer
Muscat– The Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre (OCEC) is bringing back Sports Spark, its annual indoor sports event, running from 18 July to 16 August in Exhibition Halls 1 and 2. Following the overwhelming success of last year's edition, which attracted over 30,000 participants and sold out entirely, Sports Spark 2025 returns with an even broader offering. The event aims to promote fitness and wellbeing during the hot summer months by providing the community with access to high-quality, air-conditioned facilities and a wide variety of sports. Organised by the Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre, this year's programme includes football, basketball, pickleball, badminton, cricket, and fast-growing activities like e-gaming among many others. The initiative reflects OCEC's ongoing commitment to encouraging healthy lifestyles and making sport accessible to all. Teams, individuals and clubs will be able to book facilities starting from just OMR 2 per hour, with multiple time slots available throughout the day. Parents can also register their children for a summer camp with early bird rates available until 5 July. Corporates can take advantage of special packages to offer employees access to the facilities, encouraging fitness and wellbeing in the workplace. Commenting on the launch of the third edition, Eng. Said Al Shanfari, CEO of OCEC, said: 'To us, this isn't just about transforming our exhibition halls into a sports haven, it's about encouraging summer activity and promoting fitness across all age groups. For one whole month, the OCEC becomes a place for people to play, move, and connect, with summer camps for kids, corporate challenges, tournaments, and more. It's not just about staging an event: it's about building habits, creating access, and showing what sport can do for your body, mind, and community. I invite everyone to discover the best that Sports Spark has to offer.' Tournaments and competitions will also be held throughout the month, including on the opening weekend, with more announcements to follow soon.
Times of Oman
30-06-2025
- Sport
- Times of Oman
Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre to host sports activities during the summer
Muscat: The Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre (OCEC) is bringing back Sports Spark, its annual indoor sports event, running from 18 July to 16 August in Exhibition Halls 1 and 2. Following the overwhelming success of last year's edition, which attracted over 30,000 participants and sold out entirely, Sports Spark 2025 returns with an even broader offering. The event aims to promote fitness and wellbeing during the hot summer months by providing the community with access to high-quality, air-conditioned facilities and a wide variety of sports. Organised by the Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre, this year's programme includes football, basketball, pickleball, badminton, cricket, and fast-growing activities like e-gaming among many others. The initiative reflects OCEC's ongoing commitment to encouraging healthy lifestyles and making sport accessible to all. Teams, individuals and clubs will be able to book facilities starting from just OMR 2 per hour, with multiple time slots available throughout the day. Parents can also register their children for a summer camp with early bird rates available until 5 July. Corporates can take advantage of special packages to offer employees access to the facilities, encouraging fitness and wellbeing in the workplace. Commenting on the launch of the third edition, Eng. Said Al Shanfari, CEO of OCEC, said: 'To us, this isn't just about transforming our exhibition halls into a sports haven, it's about encouraging summer activity and promoting fitness across all age groups. For one whole month, the OCEC becomes a place for people to play, move, and connect, with summer camps for kids, corporate challenges, tournaments, and more. It's not just about staging an event: it's about building habits, creating access, and showing what sport can do for your body, mind, and community. I invite everyone to discover the best that Sports Spark has to offer.'
