History

 

1st: The Olympic Movement

International Olympic Committee (IOC) is headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland, and was founded by Baron Pierre de Coubertin, the father of the modern Olympic movement, in 1896. The Olympic Charter serves as the supreme reference for the Olympic movement, outlining its principles and objectives, the most prominent of which include: developing physical and moral capacities, fostering values of understanding and friendship among youth, promoting the Olympic principles worldwide, and bringing athletes together every four years at the Olympic Games.

The Olympic philosophy is based on rejecting all forms of discrimination and promoting ethical and physical values, where participation is considered the essence of the Games, rather than winning alone. It is symbolized by three main emblems: the five interlocked rings, the Olympic flag, and the Olympic symbol, all of which are exclusively owned by the IOC.

Currently, the IOC is presided over by Dr. Kirsty Coventry from Zimbabwe, the first woman and the first African to hold this position. She was elected during the 144th IOC Session in Greece on March 20, 2025, and officially assumed her duties on June 23, 2025. She succeeded Dr. Thomas Bach of Germany, who chaired the IOC from 2013 until June 2025 and was later granted the title of “Honorary President for Life.” Before him, eight other presidents held this position, the last being Marquis Juan Antonio Samaranch (1980–2001), who visited the Sultanate of Oman twice, the last on June 2, 2001, when he met with the late His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said – may he rest in peace – and presented him with the Olympic Gold Order in recognition of his distinguished support for the sports and youth movement in Oman.

 

2nd: The Oman Olympic Committee

In line with Oman’s commitment to promoting sports, fostering Omani athletes, and forming national teams to represent Oman domestically and internationally, the first Board of Directors of Oman Olympic Committee (OOC) was formed pursuant to Royal Decree No. (42/82) under the chairmanship of Abdullah bin Hamad Al Ali and seven other members. Subsequent ministerial decisions were issued to restructure the Board, the most recent being Decision No. (14/2005) dated February 6, 2005.

OOC continuously strives to uphold the principles of the Olympic movement across all its domains, following the guidance of the late His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said – may he rest in peace – who said: “Oman’s policy is to extend the hand of friendship to all who befriend us… and we are committed to playing our full role for the sake of peace.”

 

OOC holds full membership in the following sports organizations:

  1. International Olympic Committee                                           1982
  2. Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC)           1982
  3. Olympic Council of Asia (OCA)                                               1982
  4. Union of Arab National Olympic Committees                         1982
  5. Islamic Solidarity Sports Federation                                       1985
  6. GCC Sports Games Organizing Committees                         1985

 

3rd: OOC Member Sports Associations

  1. Oman Athletics Association
  2. Oman Football Association
  3. Oman Hockey Association
  4. Oman Handball Association
  5. Oman Basketball Association
  6. Oman Volleyball Association
  7. Oman Shooting Association
  8. Oman Tennis Association
  9. Oman Swimming Association
  10. Oman Equestrian Association
  11. Oman School Sports Association
  12. Oman Cycling Federation
  13. Oman Table Tennis Association
  14. Oman Golf Association

 

4th: Jurisdictions of Oman Olympic Committee

  • Develop, promote and protect the Olympic Movement in the Sultanate of Oman, preserve the Olympic rules and principles and seriously adopt methods and appropriate ways to encourage development of women’s participation in sporting activities at all levels both locally and internationally.
  • Organize Olympic sporting activity within the Sultanate of Oman, coordinate this activity among its various sports associations and participate with them in drawing up programmes and plans pertaining to the Olympic and regional activity.
  • Organize Olympic, continental and regional events and activities scheduled to be held in the Sultanate of Oman in accordance with the Olympic and international rules and systems.
  • Cooperate and coordinate with the sports associations to better prepare teams representing the Sultanate of Oman in regional, continental, international and Olympic Games and propose selection of representatives of the Sultanate of Oman in such events in accordance with the rules and systems prescribed by International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the decisions made by the committees of these events and suggest representations by the associations taking part in international, continental or regional conferences and meetings. Oman Olympic Committee shall represent the Sultanate of Oman at the Olympic Games and at the regional, continental or world multi-sports competitions patronized by the IOC and shall constitute, organize and lead its respective delegations at these competitions. Moreover, it shall be responsible for the behaviour of the members of its delegations and undertake to participate in the Games of the Olympic Games by sending athletes.
  • Assist sports associations in performing their mission, coordinate work among them.
  • Work towards resolving sports-related disputes through the Dispute Resolution and Arbitration for Sports Committee which is formed and whose operating system is set up by the Board.
  • Work towards preventing the use of dopes and drugs that are prohibited by International Olympic Committee or international sports federations and implement penalties provided for in regulations and rules issued by International Olympic Committee (IOC) or the concerned international organizations. Implement the World Anti-Doping Code and its rules and requirements of membership and respect all the roles and responsibilities for NOCs that are listed within the World Anti-Doping Code.
  • Contribute to preparing sporting leaderships and developing their skills.
  • Encourage implementation of the “sports for all” programmes.
  • The flag, the emblem and the anthem adopted by Oman Olympic Committee for use in relation to its activities, including the Olympic Games, shall be subject to the approval of the IOC. OOC shall Issue permission for its name and logo to be used, manufactured or merchandized in accordance with the provisions of the Olympic Charter and conditions and situations prescribed by the Board of Directors.
  • No natural or judicial person may be named after Oman Olympic Committee or take any other name that gives rise to ambiguity in this regard.
  • Participate in disseminating Olympic spirit in educational sporting programmes within schools, universities and sports groups.
  •  Participate in activities that serve the making of peace and preserving environment and good sporting manners and conducts.
  • Work towards developing and protecting the Olympic movement and disseminating its basic principles in sports activity through cooperation with government bodies and non-government organizations in the Sultanate of Oman, not to associate itself with any activity which would be in contradiction with the Olympic Charter, and preserve its autonomy in face of any pressures preventing OOC from complying with the Olympic Charter.
  •  Work towards preventing all forms of discrimination, differentiation or violence in the sports.
  •  Represent the Sultanate of Oman in Olympic, international, continental and regional events whether held inside or outside Oman.
  •  Work towards implementing such projects as Oman Olympic Academy and Oman Olympic Museum with the aim of encouraging Olympic education and training and preparing cultural bulletins associated with the Olympic Movement.

 

5th: Activities and Events

 

– OOC Asian Games participation:

  1. 9th Asian Games – Delhi, India                                                  1982
  2. 10th Asian Games – Seoul, Korea                                             1986
  3.  11th Asian Games – Beijing, China                                           1990
  4.  12th Asian Games – Hiroshima, Japan                                     1994
  5.  13th Asian Games – Bangkok, Thailand                                   1998
  6.  14th Asian Games – Busan, Korea                                            2002
  7.  15th Asian Games – Doha, Qatar                                              2006
  8. 16th Asian Games – Guangzhou, China                                     2010
  9. 17th Asian Games – South Korea                                               2014
  10. 18th Asian Games – Indonesia                                                  2018
  11. 19th Asian Games – Hangzhou                                                  2022

 

 

– OOC Olympic Games participation:

  1.  23rd Olympic Games, Log Angeles (United States)       1984
  2.  24th Olympic Games, Seoul (South Korea)                    1988
  3.  25th Olympic Games, Barcelona (Spain)                        1992
  4.  26th Olympic Games, Atlanta (United States)                 1996
  5.  27th Olympic Games, Sydney (Australia)                        2000
  6.  28th Olympic Games, Athens (Greece)                            2004
  7.  29th Olympic Games, Beijing (China)                              2008
  8.  30th Olympic Games, London (Britain)                            2012
  9.  Olympic Games (31) Brazil (Rio de Janeiro)                   2016
  10.  Olympic Games (32) Japan (Tokyo)                                2020
  11. Olympic Games (33) France (Paris)                                 2024

 

 

In addition, OOC has participated in numerous regional, Arab and GCC sports tournaments since its establishment.