On the Scene in Oman -- Asian Beach Games "Perfect", Says Director General

(ATR) The director general of the Asian Beach Games organizing committee tells Around the Rings everything is "perfect" as the Games enter the homestretch in Muscat.

Habib Macki, also the IOC member from Oman and vice chairman of its NOC, spoke to ATR shortly after his countrymen won their 10th and 11th medals Monday, a gold in tent pegging team sword event, and a bronze in its Indian File.

"We were expecting some medals," he said, "but this is beyond our expectations."

Macki was particularly proud of the bronze Oman won Saturday in sepaktakraw despite never winning a set. Like woodball and jetski, the sport is new to the sultanate, he explained, and the host country did well just to field a team, much less medal.

"We have prepared for these Games very shortly, especially on the sports side," he said. "These are new Games for us."

Also new to Oman is the concept of opening its doors to an entire continent, in this case the world’s largest.

"To host Asia is not easy for us, and this is the first experience that we have," he said.

"It was a big challenge, really, but thanks to god we have achieved the goals that we are looking for."

Macki did acknowledge some transportation concerns that meant a late night after Wednesday’s opening ceremony as well as some early mornings for NOC delegates and guests of the Olympic Council of Asia.

Both are staying at MABGOC’s headquarters hotel on the south side of Muscat. The sprawling Barr Al Jissah Resort and Spa is a 90 minute drive from the purpose-built facility that’s staging the bulk of the Games, or longer on the rare occasion there’s traffic.

"In the peak time it was a little bit of problem," he said. "There were some complaints, but now they’ve relaxed a little bit."

He cited both the inaugural Asian Beach Games in Bali and last month’s Guangzhou Asian Games as examples of events with more concentrated footprints but not necessarily less travel time between accommodation and competition.

In both cases, he said, venues were confined to a single city, but commutes still reached upwards of an hour due to congestion.

"It is terrible when you sit in the car and the traffic doesn’t move," he said. "Here, it is far away, but the car is not stopping just to wait for the traffic. I don’t think it’s too far."

For the record, Macki says, the destination is worth the drive. Al-Musannah Sports City will leave behind a 4-star hotel, 54-berth marina and 74-unit apartment complex after Thursday’s closing ceremony, the first of four Games legacies touted by organizers.

The others are the new beach sports taken up by Oman, the promotion of tourism and the knowledge transfer taking place between expatriate volunteers and the Games work force.

"In all departments," he said, "there was an Omani who learned a lot."

The IOC member also joked with ATR about a friend from East Asia who saw coverage of Muscat 2010 on ESPN and called to tell him he had no idea Oman had more than just "desert and camels".

One legacy aspect Macki failed to mention was the foundation these Games could lay for future sporting events.

OCA president Sheikh Ahmad made headlines hours before Wednesday’s opening ceremony when he claimed Oman was ready to host any of the Asian Games, and IOC president Jacques Rogge a day later said he would welcome another Olympic bid from the Middle East.

Macki said there’s been no talk yet within the NOC of either Games but that he’d like to see a bid for the Asian Games as soon as possible.

"I think we should go step by step," he said.

"To go for the Olympic Games, it would be very hard and very difficult at this moment. We can host the Asian Games. I don’t think it’s a big challenge for us."

The 67-year-old then joked that he’s been involved with sports for more than 50 years and wants to host an Asiad while he still can.

"I want to see more and more big events happening in Oman," he said. "I am very proud, and I am very happy."

With reporting in Muscat by Matthew Grayson.