Around 1,000 women athletes and officials from five GCC countries will participate in the fourth GCC Women's Games that will take place in Muscat from March 8-18.
The Games will feature ten sporting disciplines, which the organisers hope will catapult the region's women athletes to a more competitive level.
The logo for the Games and the event's official website were launched on Wednesday at Diplomatic Club. The unveiling was done by H H Sayyida Dr Muna bint Fahad al Said, assistant vice-chancellor for external cooperation of Sultan Qaboos University.
Speaking to Muscat Daily at the event, Saada al Ismaily, the director of the women's sports department at the Ministry of Sports Affairs, said, “The fourth edition in Muscat will see an increase in not only the number of participants, but also in the number of events.”
“We added two more disciplines at the Muscat Games - handball and tennis - while equestrian makes a return after five years,” added Saada, a key member of the organising body.
The Games also features volleyball, basketball, taekwondo, bowling, shooting and athletics. There will be a separate athletics event for physically challenged women.
“Except for Saudi Arabia, which is yet to join the Women's Games, the remaining GCC countries are expected to send a total delegation of 150 athletes and officials,” said Saada.
The equestrian events will be held at the Al Rahba Farms in Barka, while shooting will take place at the range of Royal Army of Oman in Ghala. Other events will be held at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex.
H E Rashad al Hinai, the Undersecretary at the sports ministry and chairman of the organising committee, said the Games is growing stronger and has come a long way since Kuwait hosted the inaugural edition in 2008.
“Men, women and families can watch the region's best women athletes vie for top honours. Women's sports are instrumental in the social development of women in the region,” said H E Hinai.
At the last edition in Bahrain, the hosts topped the medals tally, while Oman finished third. Bahrain won 24 gold medals, 17 silver and 12 bronze; Qatar came second with nine gold medals, seven silver and seven bronze; and Oman finished third with five gold, three silver and 13 bronze medals. Kuwait and UAE finished fourth and fifth, respectively.
Also present at the launch ceremony were H E Sheikh Saad al Saadi, Minister of Sports Affairs, Sheikha Naima al Sabah, president of the GCC Women's Sports Organising Committee (WSOC), and Sayyida Sana al Busaidi, chairwoman of the Oman Women's Sports Committee.
Oman was given the right to host the Games in November during the 19th meeting of the GCC WSOC in Kuwait.
