Oman to Launch National Programme for Discovering Talented Athletes

Oman Prepares to Launch National Programme to Discover and Develop Sports Talent

Muscat:— The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth is preparing to launch the National Programme for Discovering and Developing the Abilities of Talented Athletes, as part of a national approach to strengthen the system for identifying sports talent in the Sultanate of Oman and provide pathways for their development and continued participation in sport.

The programme aims to invest in sports talent as a key component of the future of Omani sport and will target promising athletes across Oman’s governorates.

It also seeks to strengthen cooperation among educational institutions, sports clubs, federations, sports committees and other organisations and initiatives involved in the sports sector, creating a more integrated system for identifying and supporting talented athletes.

Basil bin Ahmed Al Rawas, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth for Sports and Youth, said the programme is one of the strategic projects under Omani Sports 2040.

He explained that it aims to establish a comprehensive system for early identification of sporting talent, develop their abilities and provide the support and care needed to prepare athletes capable of competing in regional and international sporting events.

Al Rawas stressed that achieving the programme’s objectives requires an integrated and participatory approach involving educational institutions, federations, committees and sports clubs, as well as the wider community.

He invited athletes, sports enthusiasts and members of the public to contribute to shaping the programme’s identity by submitting suggestions for a suitable short name that reflects its message and vision.

The Ministry has launched a community campaign under the title “The programme is national, and we choose the name together”, inviting the public to submit name suggestions through a dedicated electronic form.

The proposed name should reflect the programme’s identity and national character and be clear, memorable and accessible to the community.

The Ministry said involving the public from the outset will help raise awareness of the importance of discovering and developing sports talent and strengthen cooperation between sporting institutions and the community.

The National Programme for Discovering and Developing Athletes’ Abilities is designed as a unified national system linking the education and sports sectors and supporting the preparation of a generation of athletes capable of competing at regional and international levels.

The programme will be implemented in three phases: a short-term phase for 2025–2026 titled “Establishment and Launch”; a medium-term phase for 2026–2030 titled “Activation and Expansion”; and a long-term phase for 2030–2035 titled “Empowerment and Sustainability”.

The programme includes a national supervisory committee, sports talent discovery centres across the governorates, a sports talent discovery licensing programme and an external scholarship programme for outstanding athletes.