GCC Beach Games 'Muscat 2025' set to begin on April 5
MUSCAT: Muscat is set to host the third edition of the GCC Beach Games 'Muscat 2025', from April 5 to 11. Organised by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth and the Oman Olympic Committee (OOC), the event will welcome athletes from six GCC nations: UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman. Competitors will vie for top honours in eight sports: beach football, beach volleyball, beach handball, open-water swimming, sailing, tent pegging, beach athletics and paragliding.
Beach football will take place at sand courts of the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex from April 7 to 11, while beach volleyball will be hosted along Muscat's shores. Beach handball runs from April 5 to 11 at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex. Open-water swimming along Muscat's beaches will be held from April 9 to 11, with sailing from April 6 to 10. Tent pegging events will take place at Al Rahba Farm from April 8 to 10, beach athletics from April 8 to 10 on Muscat's beaches, and paragliding at Al Hail Beach from April 5 to 7.
OOC Secretary-General Taha al Kishry highlighted Oman's role in major sporting events.
HOSTING CAPABILITIES
OOC Secretary-General Taha al Kishry highlighted Oman's role in major sporting events during the press conference: "Hosting the GCC Beach Games affirms Oman's leadership in organising international beach sports, thanks to our extensive coastline and advanced infrastructure."
Beyond competition, the Games enhances sports tourism, showcasing Oman's natural landscapes. "This event boosts Oman's tourism appeal and prepares national teams for upcoming international championships," Al Kishry noted. He emphasised OOC's strategic preparations, including intensive training camps for Omani athletes to ensure optimal performance.
The chosen sports align with GCC popularity and Oman's hosting capabilities. "Selection was based on strategic criteria, ensuring high competition levels and maximising participation," Al Kishry explained. Coordination with national federations helped select sports with strong regional representation, ensuring a competitive and engaging tournament.
The organising committee ensured that venues meet international standards. "Venues were carefully selected to facilitate accessibility for athletes, officials, and spectators, enhancing the event's overall experience," Al Kishry stated.
The organising committee has unveiled the official logo for 'Muscat 2025'.
GAMES LOGO
The event's branding is a key focus. "The official logo embodies competition, sportsmanship, and GCC heritage and will be central to promotional campaigns across digital and traditional media," Al Kishry said.
Extensive media partnerships ensure wide coverage, including live broadcasting on television and digital platforms. Social media will provide real-time updates, behind-the-scenes content and exclusive interviews with athletes and officials.
The organising committee has unveiled the official logo for 'Muscat 2025'. The logo captures the essence of the competition through a meaningful design.
The deep blue colour symbolises the sea, reflecting Oman's stunning coastal beauty, while the fortress-like mountains represent the nation's rich heritage and strength. The golden-yellow hue signifies Muscat's sandy beaches, which will serve as the primary venue for the event. Additionally, the open blue sky, with '2025' cleverly integrated in negative space, embodies progress and the limitless opportunities that the competition aims to inspire.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Muscat Daily
9 hours ago
- Muscat Daily
Oman set for crucial Palestine test in 2026 World Cup qualifiers
Amman, Jordan – Oman will face Palestine on Tuesday in a crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup Asian qualifier, with a place in the next round at stake. The match will kick off at 10:15 pm Oman time at the King Abdullah Stadium in Amman, Jordan. A draw or a win will be enough for Oman to advance to the Asian play-offs for the tournament, which will be held in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Speaking at a press conference in Amman, head coach Rashid Jaber said his team was focused on securing three points. 'We are playing against a team with good players, and our goal is to collect the three points that will qualify us to participate in the Asian play-offs for the 2026 World Cup,' he said. 'The match is important and requires effort.' Oman defeated Palestine 1-0 in the first leg held at the Sultan Qaboos Complex in Bausher during the fifth round of Group Two matches in the third stage of Asian qualifying. A large contingent of Omani supporters is expected to arrive in Jordan on Tuesday to back the national team. Meanwhile, Australia take on Saudi Arabia in Jeddah with automatic qualification for next year's World Cup finals on the line. Tony Popovic's outfit go into the meeting at the King Abdullah Sports City with one foot on the plane to North America after a 1-0 win over Japan on Thursday brought the Socceroos breathing room in their quest for a place at the finals. Australia hold a three-point lead over Herve Renard's side and a large enough goal difference to leave the Saudis needing to win by five goals to climb into second and claim the last automatic berth from the current phase of Asian preliminaries. Japan have already secured top spot in Group C while Iran, Uzbekistan, South Korea and Jordan have taken the other berths available to Asian nations at the expanded World Cup from the third phase of qualifying. A further two spots will be up for grabs from a fourth round of qualifiers to be played in October. Anything other than a significant win over the Australians would see Saudi Arabia finish third in Group C and enter that next phase, where they would join the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Iraq and Indonesia.
Observer
11 hours ago
- Observer
Al Harthy awaits for the '24 Hours of Le Mans' race
Global motorsport's greatest and most challenging race, the 24 Hours of Le Mans at the famous Circuit de la Sarthe in France, is mere days away for Oman's Ahmad al Harthy who intends to mount a major bid for silverware with team-mates Valentino Rossi and Kelvin van der Linde. Marking the halfway stage of the FIA World Endurance Championship season, round four of the 2025 campaign, this year's visit to Le Mans — the race begins on Saturday, June 14 — will be Al Harthy's third attempt at the endurance racing classic where he is a past podium finisher. Memorably, of course, he made history on his 24 Hours of Le Mans debut back in 2023 when racing to a sensational second place result in the then GTE Am class — success which he happily dedicated to his Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik. Now competing in LMGT3, the successor to GTE, the Omani's second season with Team WRT in the No.46 BMW M4 LMGT3 has been impacted by some misfortune but there has been celebration as well thanks to a fantastic second place — a mere 0.3 seconds shy of victory — at Imola in Italy in April. Climbing to sixth in the LMGT3 standings at that point, having had to settle for 11th place during the season-opening event at Lusail in Qatar, a podium bid last time out at Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium ultimately became ninth due to a pit-lane speed limiter glitch which resulted in a luckless penalty. While there have been frustrations with some of the misfortune, the overall pace and performance across qualifying and race conditions from the Team WRT entry has been outstanding and Al Harthy himself has been extremely satisfied with the level of his own personal performance thus far. Supported as always by OQ Group, Sohar International, Omantel, Oman LNG, BMW Oman, Oman Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth (MoCSY), and Experience Oman, Al Harthy is very much looking forward to welcoming plenty of key partners to the 93rd staging of the 24 Hours of Le Mans later this week. This year's race entry features a combined total of 62 cars across the Hypercar, LMP2 and LMGT3 classes, with 24 in LMGT3 alone — the biggest class of the three. The No.46 BMW LMGT3 will be battling competition from the likes of Aston Martin, Corvette, Ferrari, Ford, Lexus, Mercedes-AMG and Porsche. AHMED AL HARTHY: 'Le Mans is always the biggest event of the year, not just in WEC but in motorsport as a whole, and it truly is an incredible honour to again represent Oman at such a prestigious, famous and historic race. It was the proudest moment of my career to climb the podium in the 24 Hours of Le Mans a couple of years ago on my debut in the race, truly an amazing moment to see the Omani flag fly. 'We're working as hard as we can to be back on the podium this weekend, and with Vale and Kelvin we're pushing as hard as ever to prepare as strongly as possible for the race. It's going to be an amazing week building-up to the race, I can't wait to get started.' Free practice begins at Le Mans this Wednesday, 11th June, with qualifying then getting underway at 18.45 local time – the fastest 12 cars progressing to Hyperpole at 20.00 on Thursday, 12th June. In between these sessions there will have been two further practice runs. Hyperpole for this year sees the top eight progress to a second Hyperpole session to determine the first four rows of the grid. More night-time practice follows before a day away from track action on Friday, 13th June. Warm-up for the big race takes place at midday local time on Saturday, 14th June, with the 24 Hours of Le Mans beginning at 16.00 local time. Follow everything at or 2025 FIA WEC LMGT3 Driver Standings (after Rd3): 1st Ben Keating / Daniel Juncadella / Jonny Edgar, 44pts 2nd Alessio Rovera / Francois Heriau / Simon Mann, 40pts 3rd Arnold Robin / Finn Gehrsitz, 38pts 9th Ahmad al Harthy / Valentino Rossi / Kelvin van der Linde, 21pts 2025 FIA WEC LMGT3 Team Standings (after Rd3): 1st TF Sport (Corvette Z06 LMGT3.R), 44pts 2nd Vista AF Corse (Ferrari 296 GT3), 40pts 3rd Akkodis ASP Team (Lexus RC F LMGT3), 38pts 9th Team WRT (BMW M4 LMGT3), 21pts
Observer
11 hours ago
- Observer
Nizwa: Bridging sustainable development and heritage
NIZWA: The Wilayat of Nizwa in the Governorate of Al Dakhiliyah stands as one of Oman's most prominent cultural and touristic destinations, renowned for its rich historical legacy and archaeological landmarks that chronicle significant chapters of the nation's past. The iconic Nizwa Fort dominates the historical landscape as a masterpiece of traditional Omani architecture. Adjacent to the fort, the vibrant Nizwa Souq showcases exceptional local craftsmanship, from intricately forged daggers and handcrafted silverware to traditional markets selling livestock, fresh produce and artisanal goods. Falaj Daris, recognised on Unesco's World Heritage list as one of Oman's largest aflaj irrigation systems, represents another jewel in Nizwa's heritage crown. This ancient water network sustains extensive agricultural lands while demonstrating centuries-old Omani ingenuity in sustainable water management. The recent development of a public garden within the falaj has further enhanced its ecological and touristic value. Nizwa's strategic geographical location, combined with its diverse topography of wadis, mountains and verdant oases, has established it as a prime destination for cultural and eco-tourism. These natural assets, along with progressive development initiatives, have positioned the Wilayat of Nizwa as an attractive investment hub for tourism and infrastructure projects. Nizwa has achieved remarkable progress in sustainable development through strategic initiatives. These initiatives have further enhanced urban infrastructure and quality of life. Significant development projects currently under way include Al Dakhiliyah Square launched earlier this year, an Integrated Public Transport Station, and restoration works in Harat Al Aqr. The Public Garden Project has reached 40 per cent completion, collectively aiming to elevate Nizwa's status as Oman's premier cultural-tourism destination while creating new economic opportunities. Harat Al Aqr has transformed into a flagship example of youth empowerment, hosting 78 entrepreneurial ventures that have generated over 300 jobs for young Omanis. The Wilayat of Nizwa is an attractive investment hub for tourism and infrastructure projects Shaikh Saleh bin Dhiyab al Rubaiee, Wali of Nizwa, said that developmental projects are strategically designed to strengthen local economies while preserving cultural heritage. He highlighted how historical neighbourhood restoration forms a cornerstone of Nizwa's economic strategy, serving the dual purpose of safeguarding cultural identity through architectural conservation while creating employment via tourism and SME development. Nizwa Industrial City, under the Public Establishment for Industrial Estates (Madayn), represents another facet of Nizwa's growth with 186 operational projects, attracting RO 504 million in cumulative investments and generating 6,100 jobs with a 45-per cent Omanisation rate. Ishaq bin Ibrahim al Kharousi, acting Director-General, revealed Madayn's upcoming RO 1.2 million Entrepreneurial Complex and ongoing studies for an integrated residential zone within the industrial city. Ahlam bint Hamad al Qasabiyah, Director of the Heritage and Tourism Department in Al Dakhiliyah Governorate, outlined the ministry's comprehensive SME support programmes including streamlined licensing procedures, specialised training initiatives and incentive packages for heritage hospitality ventures. She noted how the conversion of historical homes into heritage inns perfectly illustrates the purple economy approach, citing 600,000 visitors to Harat Al Aqr in the first quarter of 2023 as evidence of this model's success in merging cultural preservation with economic viability. The ministry continues to prioritise fortress restorations and historical documentation to enhance Oman's sustainable tourism offerings while safeguarding intangible cultural heritage. This comprehensive development approach positions Nizwa as a model for balanced sustainable growth, creating new opportunities while maintaining the unique identity. — ONA
