Foreign Ministry launches Oman Golf Trophy 2024
Oman's Foreign Ministry, in collaboration with relevant entities, announced details of the second edition of the Oman Golf Trophy 2024 at a press conference at the Royal Opera House, Muscat.
This follows on from the success of the inaugural Oman Golf Trophy, a diplomatic initiative held in partnership between the public and private sectors from 2022 to 2023 in Italy and the Sultanate of Oman,
The event was attended by Khalid Almuslahi, Foreign Ministry Undersecretary for Administrative and Financial Affairs, Basil bin Ahmed Al Rawas, Undersecretary for Sports and Youth at the Ministry of Culture Sports and Youth, and Engineer Munthir Al Barwani, President of the Oman Golf Association.
The upcoming tournament is set to attract a diverse mix of local and international golf enthusiasts, bolstering Oman's standing as a premier sports tourism destination.
Eighty qualifying rounds will take place across seven countries from April to October 2024 and will see 7,400 participants vie for a spot in the final.
The final of the Oman Golf Trophy 2024 will be held at Al Mouj Golf in December, featuring 140 players, accompanied by guests. Notable economic and media figures from participating nations will gather in Muscat, adding prestige to the championship's conclusion.
Commenting on the launch of the second edition of the event, Undersecretary Almuslahi said: “This initiative aims to introduce Oman as a tourism destination and to establish a connection with golf enthusiasts, including businesspeople and high net worth individuals.
“It also aims to highlight Oman's potential by attracting investors, business owners, tourists and media from participating countries, promoting the Sultanate as an attractive destination for golf and other sports,” he added.
Undersecretary Al Rawas noted that the Oman Golf Trophy is the first sports championship held abroad that bears the name “Sultanate of Oman”. He highlighted that this year's event will feature seven participating countries in the qualifying rounds, compared to the first event which included only Italy and Oman. He said this presents a significant opportunity to promote investment opportunities, especially in sports tourism, in line with Oman’s Vision 2040.
Undersecretary Al Rawas pointed out that the tournament aligns with the ongoing diplomatic and cultural efforts of the Sultanate of Oman on the international stage, providing an opportunity to showcase Oman in those countries through the globally popular sport of golf.
He stressed the importance of supporting the tournament to ensure its sustainability and development, stating that such support will play a significant role in building a foundation that enables Omani athletes to compete at the global level.
In conclusion, he expressed his anticipation for organising similar events in various sports in collaboration with international partners and with the joint support of the public and private sectors.
Engineer Munthir said: “The Oman Golf Trophy is an initiative from the Unified National Plan team to promote Oman under the auspices of the Omani Foreign Ministry.
“The first edition of the tournament was held in Italy from September to November 2022, with 800 participants in the qualifying rounds. Fourteen players qualified to compete in the final round at the Al Mouj Golf Course, where Enrico Pardazi won the men's category and Barbara Moratti the women's category.”
This initiative demonstrates the strength of the partnership between the public and private sectors, working together towards a common goal of promoting Oman. The success of the Oman Golf Trophy extends beyond Italy and Oman, reaching a global audience and conveying the message that Oman is an open country welcoming investors, tourists, athletes, adventurers, luxury enthusiasts and people from all walks of life.
The Oman Golf Trophy will be held at several renowned golf courses worldwide, with the final event taking place in Muscat from December 9th to 12th, 2024. Qualifying rounds will be held in: Italy (April to October), Austria (April to September), Germany (April to October), South Africa (May to August), India (August to November), France (September to October), and Japan (August to October). Omani players will have the opportunity to interact with international players and compete in an atmosphere blending fun and challenge.
The first Oman Golf Trophy took place on seven famous golf courses in Italy from September to November 2022, with 800 players participating in the qualifying rounds. Fourteen players qualified for the final round, held at the Al Mouj Golf. The initiative is supervised by the Oman Golf Federation and sponsored by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth, with technical and financial support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, the Ministry of Commerce, Industry, and Investment Promotion, and several prestigious Omani companies.
This is an unofficial English version of an Arabic report. To view the official Arabic text, click here.