Sunday 20 / September / 2026
Muscat: The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth is preparing to launch the National Program for Discovering and Developing the Abilities of Talented Athletes, as part of a national initiative aimed at strengthening the system for discovering sporting talent in the Sultanate of Oman, developing their abilities, and providing support pathways for their growth and continued participation in the sports field.
The program stems from the importance of investing in sporting talent as a fundamental component of the future of Omani sports. It targets sporting talent in all governorates of the Sultanate of Oman and promotes integration among relevant entities and institutions, including educational institutions, clubs, federations, and sports committees, as well as other entities and initiatives related to the sports field. This will contribute to expanding access to talent, identifying it, and supporting its development.
His Excellency Basil bin Ahmed Al Rawas, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth for Sports and Youth, stated that the National Program for Discovering and Developing the Abilities of Talented Athletes is one of the strategic projects of Omani Sports 2040. This program is dedicated to investing in Omani sporting talent and aims to build a comprehensive system for early talent identification, skill development, and the provision of necessary support and care. This will prepare generations qualified to compete effectively in international sporting events.
His Excellency added : "The objectives that this national program seeks to achieve in nurturing promising sporting talent require collaborative and integrated work at all stages, with a clear framework among relevant stakeholders, including educational institutions, federations, committees, and sports clubs. Above all, the community is a fundamental pillar and a key partner from the very beginning of the program. Recognizing the importance of community partnership in shaping the identity of national programs, this is an invitation to all members of society, athletes, and those interested in sports to contribute to defining the identity of this program by submitting their suggestions for the ideal name to express its message and ambitious vision for developing Omani sports."
His Excellency emphasized that achieving the goals is accomplished through effective partnership and by adopting the principle of serious national work to move from the level of comprehensive and well-considered planning to the stages of efficient and high-quality implementation.
He added that the success of this national system is based on cooperation that serves the aspirations of Omani sports and enhances its standing both locally and internationally.
The Ministry also launched a community campaign to choose a short name for the program, entitled “The Program is National, and We Choose the Name Together.” The Ministry invites members of the community, athletes, and those interested in sports to participate in choosing the program’s name through the designated electronic form and to submit their suggestions. The selection process focuses on names that reflect the program’s identity and national message, and that are clear, memorable, and relatable to the community.
Participation in choosing the program's name reflects an approach that allows the community to be involved in shaping its identity from the outset. This also raises awareness of the importance of discovering and developing sporting talent, and reinforces the concept of partnership between stakeholders and the community in supporting athletic talent. Furthermore, it reflects the program's national dimension and the importance of community participation in choosing its identity, paving the way for a phase in which efforts to discover and develop talented athletes and support their careers in the Sultanate of Oman will continue.
The National Program for Discovering and Developing Athletes' Abilities is a unified national system for discovering sporting talent. It enhances integration between education and the sports sector, enabling the preparation of a generation of athletes capable of competing regionally and internationally. The program consists of three distinct phases: the first, short-term phase (2025–2026), focused on establishment and launch; the second, medium-term phase (2026–2030), on activation and expansion; and the third, long-term phase (2030–2035), focused on empowerment and sustainability. The project includes a national supervisory committee, talent identification centers in the governorates, a sports talent identification license program, and an overseas scholarship program for outstanding athletes.
