MUSCAT : As part of the banks ‘Alizz Cares’ program and underscoring its commitment to fostering inclusivity, empowering communities, and enhancing the quality of life, Alizz Islamic Bank recently announced the ‘Sports for All’ initiative that strives to encourage sports and development into the community.

This ‘Sports for All’ initiative reflects the banks commitment to promoting inclusivity, health, equality and public welfare through sports, aligning with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The first arm of this initative will be the bank partnering with Special Olympics Oman to sponsor a specialised full year training programme for 10 athletes.

The launch ceremony was held under the auspices of H.E Sheikh Rashid bin Ahmed Al Shamsi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Social Development in the presence of Mr. Ali Al Mani, CEO of Alizz Islamic Bank, former Oman National Team players Ali Al Habsi and Hassan Mudhafar, the executive management team of the bank and other dignitaries from Special Olympics Oman.

Speaking at the launch, Mr. Ali Al Mani, CEO of Alizz Islamic Bank said “At Alizz Islamic Bank we believe that sports can be used as a catalyst for positive change and we are committed to empowering all ages, abilities and backgrounds. We believe in the importance of educating the public about the benefits of sports and engaging in physical activities which resonates with our collective dedication to making an impact to the society.”

Al Mani added “As a society, it is important that we break down social barriers and ensure equal access to sporting opportunities to everyone and by championing accessibility and with special needs initiatives we promote inclusivity and harness diverse talents and perspectives of every member of our community. Through our ‘Sports for All’ initative and our partnership with the Special Olympics Oman, we are striving to create a community that provides meaningful opportunities for individuals of all abilities to benefit from advantages of participation in sports.”

Special Olympics Oman works with the objective to build behavioral, physical, and professional skillsets of its members by integrating them into society. The association’s longstanding commitment to raise awareness on the needs of people with special needs extends to supporting and encouraging their participation in social, cultural, sports, health, professional and recreational activities, in collaboration with government and non-government entities. In addition, Special Olympics Oman works with the families of people with special needs, involving them in programs, initiatives and events that are designed for the benefit of their children while promoting a culture of volunteerism.