Muscat: The discussions took place during the fifth session of the third ordinary session of the eighth term of the State Council, chaired by His Excellency Sheikh Abdulmalik bin Abdullah Al Khalili, Chairman of the State Council. The Council reviewed the session’s agenda, which included the Draft Law on Sports Bodies referred from the Council of Ministers, along with the opinion of the Social and Cultural Committee, in accordance with Article (49) of the Council of Oman Law.

Dr Mohammed bin Saeed Al-Hajri, Chairman of the Social and Cultural Committee, said the proposed Sports Bodies Law aligns with the governance and institutional performance priorities of Oman Vision 2040 and reflects relevant international legislation and standards. He noted that the draft law seeks to strengthen governance principles in sports organizations, enhance their administrative and financial independence, and raise institutional efficiency and output quality. The law also aims to support sports investment and promote public-private partnerships, contributing to the development of sports infrastructure and diversification of funding sources.

The Council also discussed the committee’s study titled Enhancing the Financial Sustainability of Civil Society Institutions. Dr Al-Hajri explained that the study responds to the growing role of charitable organizations and volunteer groups in national development and community participation. The study analyzes the current financial sustainability of these institutions, identifies key challenges, and proposes innovative strategies to diversify income streams and improve financial management, with the goal of ensuring long-term and sustainable social impact.

At the conclusion of the session, the State Council reviewed a report from the General Secretariat outlining the Council’s activities and ongoing work.