MUSCAT: Bank Muscat’s flagship corporate social responsibility (CSR) programme continues to achieve great success across the Sultanate with the signing of agreements to start implementing Green Sports projects in 2021. This year, the bank is celebrating the 10^th anniversary of its pioneering CSR programme and has increased the number of annual beneficiaries across the country from 15 to 20 teams. Agreements were recently signed at the bank’s Head Office by the representatives of the Al Samdi Sports Team from Samail and the Al Hajr Sports & Cultural Team from Quriyat, and Talib Saif Al Makhmari, Manager – Community & Media Relations, Bank Muscat. More such agreements are expected to be signed “virtually” with other beneficiaries in the coming weeks in keeping with the current situation.

Speaking on the occasion, Talib Saif Al Makhmari, Manager – Community & Media Relations, Bank Muscat, said: “The bank is delighted to sign agreements with the winners of Green Sports 2021, after which the teams can start implementing their respective projects. We wish all the teams great success in the implementation of their projects and hope that it will strengthen bonds within local communities by providing facilities for various sports, cultural and social activities.”

Of the 20 beneficiaries this year, 14 teams will be provided with floodlighting for their sports fields. These teams are as follows: Al Farfarah Sports Team (Bidbid); Al Kifah Sports Team (Suwaiq); Al Kefah Sports Team (Sohar); Al Mahader Sports & Cultural Team (Rustaq); Al Humida Sports & Cultural Team (Izki); Al Hajr Sports & Cultural Team (Quriyat); Al Ettihad Cultural Team (Bidiya); Al Arid Sports & Cultural Team (Ibri); Al Memoura Sports & Cultural Team (Al Kamil wa Al Wafi); Al Samdi Sports Team (Samail); Al Khuwairat Sports & Cultural Team (Khabourah); Al Dhahir Sports Team (Jaalan Bani Bu Ali); Al Ghalila Sports, Cultural and Social Team (Al Suwaiq); and Al Ettifaq Sports and Cultural Team (Liwa). 

The Al Soor Sports Team (Bahla); Al Husn Al Ahli Team (Salalah) and Al Shabab Sports, Cultural and Social Team (Yanqul) will receive support for natural greening of their sports fields, while artificial turf will be installed on the Wadi Nahez Al Ahli Team’s field in Salalah. The Al Majaz Al Sughra Sports Team (Saham) and Al Ittihad Wudam Al Sahel Sports Team (Mussanah) will be provided water-desalination systems to support their sports fields.

It should be noted that Green Sports has so far supported 143 teams across various governorates in the Sultanate. Over 36,900 members from different communities have benefitted from the programme, and more are expected to be a part of it in the future. Till date, 95 teams have received support for installation of artificial turf or natural grass on their fields, while 40 teams have received support for floodlighting and 8 teams for water desalination plants. As a ‘one of its kind’ programme, Green Sports is contributing majorly to developing the sporting skills and talents of Omani youth. Bank Muscat has been encouraged by the tremendous success of the programme in transforming sports infrastructure across the country.