Oman continues preparations for the 2010 Asian Beach Games

Muscat: With almost a year to go, Oman is on course to host the second Asian Beach Games from December 8-16 next year at the picturesque beach by the Musanah town about 150km north of Muscat.

“At the moment work is going on really well and it will be completed as scheduled in June next year,” said Habib Bin Abdulnabi Macki, Vice Chairman of Oman Olympic Committee and Director of Muscat Asian Beach Games Organising Committee (MABGOC).

He said that a dry run would be carried out in after soft opening of the Asian beach Games facilities and village in July next year. The facilities are expected to be officially opened in October 2010.

The government-owned real estate company Omaran is building the Musanah Sports Village that is spread over an area of approximately one million square metres.

The village comprising athletics facilities, the main press centre, a four-star hotel, a 400-berth marina with restaurants and shops, will house 5,000 athletes, 500 local and international media, officials and organisers.

There second edition of the Games will have beach football, beach handball, beach volleyball, beach sepak takraw, beach kabbadi, jet ski, sailing, marathon swimming, triathlon, body building and woodball. Besides Musanah, Muscat will host some of the events.

Meanwhile, Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) officials and Technical Delegates for the 2nd Asian Beach Games carried out inspection of the preparations at the venues at the Musanah Sports City MABGOC officials.

“The inspection visit of the site gve technical delegates a clear idea of what exactly the set-up is like and how competitions for the Games will be arranged,” said Taha Suleiman Al Kishiry, MABGOC Deputy Director General for Operations.

“Our visits to the sites have helped us to have a comprehensive understanding of the 2nd Asian Beach Games preparations, I am confident the Games will be a great success,” said Zhang Jilong, OCA Sports Committee Chairman.

According to a member of the MABGOC, the OCA Technical Delegates have expressed satisfaction with the venues presentations and progresses, and provided very helpful feedback.