Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre (OCEC), venue for the World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships Muscat 22 (© AFP / Getty Images)
There are just 100 days to go until the World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships Muscat 22 and to mark the milestone in the countdown, the local organising committee has unveiled the exclusive brand identity for the event.
The artwork features iconic Muscat landmarks, including the Al Alam Palace, the Riyam Park monument and the Al Sahwa Clock Tower above a traditional Omani tile pattern motif.
“Plans for the event are progressing rapidly,” said Sheikh Salim Al Amri, President of the Oman Athletics Association. “We have held work sessions together to narrow down the details and deliver a highly professional, well-coordinated event for athletes, coaches and international media.
“This is a unique opportunity for Oman to enhance athletics within the country and establish ourselves as a viable host nation for future events and we are determined to make sure the 2022 Race Walking Team Championships live long in the memory.”
It will be the first time the World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships have been held in the Middle East. It’s also the first time an Asian nation other than China has hosted the event. The championships were originally due to be held in Minsk, Belarus, but the ongoing travel restrictions caused by Covid-19 forced the event to be rescheduled.
Racing will take place around the pristine landscaped gardens of the Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre (OCEC) in the heart of Muscat. The week of racing will be a celebration of athletics with fun runs taking place either side of the main competition, as well as an on-site health and fitness exhibition to help inspire local athletes and visitors to become more active.
“This is a great achievement for Oman and we are incredibly proud to host the 2022 Race Walking Team Championships,” said Said Al Shanfari, CEO of the OCEC. “To take such a leading role in Oman’s sporting evolution is a responsibility we are delighted to have, and hopefully this will be the first of many World Athletics events to visit our nation.”
The championships will feature 20km and 35km races for senior men and women, plus 10km races for U20 men and women.
“We have had success hosting a wide variety of high-profile sporting events over recent years and this is the next step forward for our development as an attractive venue for major events,” said Khamis Al Jabri, CEO of the local organising committee. “Oman has built a strong reputation on its authenticity and hospitality, and the benefits of hosting the 2022 World Race Walking Team Championships will reach far and wide. Local SMEs will benefit, athletes of all ages can be inspired to realise their ambitions on home soil, and this is the ideal platform to showcase our capabilities to a new global sporting audience.”
The World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships Muscat 22 is expected to attract more than 1000 inbound visitors, including athletes, coaches, delegates, friends and family. Training camps will also be established at various resorts in Nizwa to allow competitors to acclimatise before the event.
LOC for World Athletics
