Ahead of the 2024 FISU World University Championships Cross Country set to unfold in Muscat, Oman, 17 and 18 February, FISU President Leonz Eder embarked on a series of pivotal meetings with local academic and sporting authorities. Accompanied by Dr. Salim Al-Araimi, President of the Oman Committee for University Sport, President Eder engaged in discussions aimed at fostering collaboration and promoting sport participation as well as FISU events and programmes.
One of the significant meetings was with officials from the esteemed National University of Science and Technology. Dr. Ali Al Bimani, the Vice-Chancellor along with other prominent representatives, expressed eagerness to join FISU’s Healthy Campus programme, recognizing its potential to improve the wellbeing on campus, to enhance internal cohesion within the university, and to bolster networking opportunities on a global scale.
Furthermore, President Eder took the opportunity to explore avenues for advancing field hockey among students, particularly within the Asian University Sports Federation. His meeting with Dr. Marwan Juma Ali Al Juma, Chairman of Oman Hockey Association, underscored the commitment to nurturing sporting talent and expanding participation in a sport beloved across the region.
The discussions culminated in a meeting with Dr. Basil Al Rawas, the Undersecretary for Sport and Youth of Oman, emphasizing the pivotal role of sports in youth development and education. The prospect of Oman hosting future FISU events, including the possibility of the World FISU Forum in 2028, emerged as a topic of mutual interest, indicative of Oman’s growing stature in the global sporting arena.
At this last meeting, President Eder highlighted the importance of three fundamental pillars for FISU:
- The organization of international sporting events (FISU Games, Championships and Cups) as a factor in promoting and uniting university sport
- The investment in the Healthy Campus programme, for which Eder suggested the entry of Omani Universities into the programme as soon as possible, given the benefits it brings to the wellbeing of communities, including better integration and academic success
- The education sector, through empowerment and growth of knowledge on the part of ecosystem stakeholders (locally and internationally), as well as through the development of university sport
The convergence of sports, tourism, and youth development under the purview of Oman’s ministry underscores the potential for fruitful collaboration between Oman and FISU. As the 2024 FISU World University Championships Cross Country approaches, the groundwork laid during these discussions promises to enrich the sporting landscape and foster enduring partnerships aimed at promoting athletic excellence and holistic development.
Note – header picture L to R – Dr. Salim Al-Araimi, President of the Oman Committee for University Sport, FISU President Leonz Eder and Basil Al Rawas, Undersecretary for Sport and Youth of Oman
