On the Scene -- OCA Chief Says Oman Ready For More Than Beach Games

(ATR) Olympic Council of Asia president Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah says Oman is ready for the international stage as the 2nd Asian Beach Games open in Muscat.

"They have all the facilities to host any of the Asian Games or any international championships," he told assembled media just hours before Wednesday’s opening ceremony, suggesting the next nine days could be crucial for the sport development of this oil-rich Gulf state.

Around the Rings is on the scene in Oman this week as all 45 OCA member NOCs take to the sand and the water in hopes of Asian Beach Games glory.

The program that awaits the 1,200+ athletes slated to compete is somewhat slimmer than the one contested two years ago in Bali, Indonesia. Gone are beach basketball, paragliding, dragon boat, pencak silat, beach wrestling and surfing.

Bodybuilding, jetski, marathon swimming and sailing as well as beach varieties of handball, kabbadi, sepaktakraw, soccer, volleyball, waterpolo and woodball again have a place on the program. Tent pegging and water ski are making their Beach Games debut.

The 14 sports are split between venues in Muscat and the so-called Al Musannah "Sports City," a purpose-built complex located 75 miles north of the capital and site of Wednesday’s opening ceremony.

Among the IOC members in attendance were Habib Macki from Oman, Raja Randhir Singh from India, Prince Faisal bin Al Hussein of Jordan, Nawal El Moutawakel from Morocco, Timothy Fok from Hong Kong, Rita Subowo from Indonesia, Dae Sung Moon from South Korea and Toni Khoury from Lebanon, VP Thomas Bach and president Jacques Rogge.

This is Rogge’s first trip to Oman, but his second to an Asian Games within the past month. He was in Guangzhou on Nov. 12 for its opening ceremony and will take in three days of action this week in Muscat.

Rogge’s presence, Ahmad said in his press briefing, speaks volumes for the growth of sport in Asia, comments later echoed at the ceremony itself by Omani sports minister and NOC chairman Ali bin Masoud al Sunaidy.

Muscat 2010 is "an ambitious step," he told the boisterous crowds, "setting a benchmark for organizing and hosting future continental and international sports activities."

Speeches from Ahmad and al Sunaidy capped off a two-hour spectacle heavy on ocean imagery and light on miscues.

Transportation delays did, however, leave several IOC members and dozens of OCA guests sitting on buses until just before the slated start time of 8 p.m.

But 15 minutes later, the show began and never let up.

Omani tennis darling Fatma al Nabhani lit the torch, and deputy prime minister for the Council of Ministers Sayyid Fahd bin Mahmoud al Said officially declared the Games open, sparking a half-hour fireworks display that lit up both the night sky and the nearby waters.

The Real "Opening"

Long before al Said’s gesture, Japan’s beach soccer team kicked off the Games with a win over Thailand.

More group play followed throughout Wednesday, and beach waterpolo staged two preliminary matches as well.

Competition begins Thursday in handball, sepaktakraw, volleyball and sailing, all at the Sports City.

Medals are up for grabs in Muscat for marathon swimming and tent pegging, an equestrian discipline particularly popular in the host country.

Ever Onward

As the OCA reflects upon Guangzhou 2010 and gears up for these Beach Games, its leadership must also look ahead to future Asiads.

Incheon 2014 organizers are in Muscat this week both for pleasure and for business. They met Wednesday with the OCA’s executive board to finalize the sports program for the 17th Asian Games coming to South Korea in four years’ time.

The OCA nixed IAGOC’s suggestion of softball in favor of both cricket and karetedo.

Baseball, bowling, kabaddi, sepaktakraw, squash, wushu and the 28 summer Olympic sports round out the 36-sport program for Incheon.

Also Wednesday, the OCA awarded the 4th Asian Indoor & Martial Arts Games to Incheon for 2014.

Seen, But Not Heard

Representatives from the 2018 Winter Olympic bid cities will soon join the who’s who of international sport here this week in Muscat, but only as observers. Pitches will be confined to small talk and closed-door meetings, a far cry from the glitzy presentations made in recent weeks by Munich, Annecy and PyeongChang, South Korea.

With reporting in Muscat by Matthew Grayson.