Saudi Arabia opens its participation in the West Asian Paralympic Games in Oman
The Saudi Arabian athletics team officially begins its participation today, Tuesday, in the fifth West Asian Paralympic Games, hosted by the Sultanate of Oman at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex in Bausher. This start follows the arrival of the athletics delegation last Sunday, comprising a select group of 18 athletes. The technical meeting for the competition was held to finalize preparations and verify the athletes' eligibility before the opening whistle.
The first day of the tournament is witnessing a surge in sporting activity, with goalball competitions kicking off at the Al Amal Club hall amidst fierce competition from the national teams of Iraq, Qatar, Bahrain, the UAE, Yemen, Syria, and the host country, Oman. Simultaneously, the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex is hosting the badminton and wheelchair basketball competitions, while the remaining Saudi Arabian teams participating in the tournament continue to arrive in the Omani capital, Muscat, to complete their delegation.
In a related context, the Saudi national swimming team and the Saudi national Paralympic weightlifting team arrived at their accommodation, where the Saudi swimmers are preparing to kick off their competitions tomorrow, Wednesday, at the complex's swimming pool, amid aspirations to achieve new records and climb the podium.
On the official and diplomatic front, the Ambassador of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques to the Sultanate of Oman, Ibrahim bin Saad bin Bishan, visited the headquarters of the Saudi Paralympic teams. During his visit, the Ambassador emphasized the keenness of the wise leadership of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to support and nurture athletes with disabilities, and to provide all means that enable them to represent the Kingdom with distinction in international arenas. He wished them success in winning medals and raising the Saudi flag high.
The West Asian Paralympic Games hold significant strategic importance on the regional sports agenda, serving as a key preparatory stage for Paralympic athletes competing in upcoming continental and global events. These games contribute to raising the technical level of athletes through direct interaction with elite West Asian champions, and they also strengthen bonds of brotherhood and sporting cooperation among the countries of the region, positively impacting the development of disability sports in the Middle East.
Saudi Arabia's extensive participation in this edition reflects the growing interest in the sports sector within the framework of the Kingdom's Vision 2030, specifically the Quality of Life Program, which places particular emphasis on empowering people with disabilities and integrating them into society through sports. Saudi Paralympic sports have witnessed significant advancements in recent years, both in terms of infrastructure and technical training programs, raising expectations for the Saudi team to achieve outstanding results in this tournament.
