MUSCAT: The Sultanate of Oman, represented by the Omani Committee for University Sports, received the flag of the International University Cross Country Championship to be held in March 2024.

The championship will be held in Muscat with the participation of more than 250 athletes from 30 countries. Ahmed Al Darmaki, Secretary General of the Omani Committee for University Sports, received the championship flag at current edition of the championship taking place in Portuguese city, Aveiro. The Sultanate has received the honour of hosting a new international event after it was presented with hosting many sports events at the Gulf and Arab levels.

The Sultanate of Oman had the honour of hosting after strong competition and many negotiations over the past four years with the International University Sports Federation. The Omani Committee for University Sports, after the approval of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth, submitted the hosting file for the International University Cross Country Championship 2024.

It also gave a visual presentation to officials in the International Federation for Sports in the beginning of November 2019. The Omani University Sports Committee received the official letter from the International Federation with an approval to host the major international sporting event. This event will be hosted by the West Asian region for the first time.

The Sultanate has a proven record in international participation in the Cross Country Championships since 2014 in Uganda. Oman also participated in the 2016 championship in Italy, in 2018 event in Switzerland as well as in the 2020 championship that was supposed to be organised by Morocco but was delayed due to the pandemic. The 2022 championship was moved from Japan to Portugal, thus letting Sultanate receive the flag for the 2024 championship.

Dr. Salem bin Khamis Al-Araimi, Chairman of the Omani Committee for University Sports, said that the Sultanate of Oman had won the bid to host the international university championship after strong competition with many countries that seek to host such tournaments, which have a major role in promoting tourism and introducing the terrain of the region, noting “of More than 250 athletes from 30 countries are expected to participate, which is a good indicator for introducing the Sultanate.

Al-Araimi stressed that the International University Cross Country Championships will be an exceptional event because of its paramount importance at the international level. Through this opportunity, the Sultanate of Oman will demonstrate its organisational capacity, reflecting the extent of development and progress of Omani sports,

He added,“We will work during the next two years to hold meetings Extensive cooperation with the competent authorities. Hosting this event will also benefit tourism promotion and attract small and medium enterprises as well as the traditional Omani crafts. We promise that hosting this event will be one of the best experiences we’ve had over the years.