Omran announces major progress on Asian Beach Games site

The announcement came as the company prepares to celebrate the Muscat Festival with a major campaign to build awareness of the Games and work on the site.

Omran is developing the purpose-built site in Musannah to feature the very best sporting facilities and facilities for visitors and participants in the Games. The project is being built on behalf of the Ministry of Sports Affairs and the Oman Olympic Committee.

The first phase of development is now complete, and includes the construction of platforms for the Athlete Village, games court, hotel, Marina Apartments, car parks and the main entrance area.

Work has also progressed on the waterfront elements, including the sailing park and swimming area, the platforms for which are now complete pending dredging work on the marina. The marina itself is nearly a quarter complete, and has seen some 200,000 tonnes of rock delivered to the site for the construction of the breakwater.

In a statement, Eng Wael Al-Lawati, CEO of Omran, said:

"The Asian Beach Games represent a significant and exciting opportunity for Oman. As host of the 2nd Asian Beach Games event, we have the chance to demonstrate the country's natural beauty, traditional hospitality and ability to create world-class tourism and sporting destinations."

"We are delighted to be able to announce significant progress of work on the site, which is taking shape in Musannah. Equally important is that we have been able to meet our tight deadlines and high standards of quality without a single reportable health and safety incident. This is a fantastic achievement." he added.

Omran is developing a purpose built site for the 2010 Asian Beach Games in a picturesque location near the coastal town of Musannah, an hour's drive from Muscat. The site will feature world-class sporting facilities, a three star hotel and meeting and conference facilities which will act as a magnet for future luxury developments. There are active plans to repurpose the site once the Games are over as a sports-themed mixed-use development, retaining much of the buildings developed for the Asian Beach Games themselves.

Omran announced this progress as celebrations for the Muscat Festival get underway in the capital. In its capacity as Gold Sponsor of the Muscat Festival, the company applauded celebrations of the city's heritage and tradition, and urged citizens to get involved in preparations for the 2010 Muscat Asian Beach Games.

To promote the Games and raise awareness of work on the site, Omran has initiated an advertising campaign in strategic locations around Muscat during the Festival, while stalls have been set up in co-operation with Muscat Asian Beach Games Organizing Committee (MABGOC) for the duration of the Festival to educate the public and athletes interested in signing up for the Games.

Commenting on the timing of the announcement to coincide with the Muscat Festival, Eng. Al Lawati added:

"The Muscat Festival is one of the country's most important events, and a true celebration of modern Oman. We feel that the 2nd Asian Beach Games, which shares a focus on our vibrant and progressive capital city, has the potential to bring together Omanis and visitors alike in celebration of the city's incredible assets."

The Muscat Festival, of which Omran is Gold Sponsor, is held for a month from mid-January each year around Oman's capital city. It showcases traditional Omani culture with poetry recitals, traditional dancing and craft displays. These appear alongside dance and acrobatic events from around the world, attracted by the Festival's profile and popularity.

The Asian Beach Games were established by the Olympic Council of Asia, and are held every two years. The 2010 Muscat Asian Beach Games will be the second event, following the inaugural Games in Bali last year. The overarching aim is to strengthen relations and understanding between participating Asian nations in a friendly competitive environment.