Pole vault great Bubka delighted to initiate dialogue with OOC — By A Seshagiri Rao — MUSCAT — The Sultanate will soon start a strategic tie up with Ukraine that will lead to mutual benefit in the field of sports. Thanks to talks between visiting pole vault great Sergey Bubka, who is also the chief of Ukraine Olympic Committee, and the Oman Olympic Committee (OCC) Chairman Habib Abdulnabi Macki and other officials, the two bodies have agreed in principle to begin sporting co-operation at the earliest.
Legendary pole vaulter Bubka, who still holds the world record in his discipline, is here on an invitation from the OOC chairman. And after a round of talks with the Sultanate’s Olympic officials and the chairmen of the sports associations, more importantly the head of the Oman Athletic Association (OAA) Shaikh Saif al Hosni, Bubka first expressed delight on visiting ‘this beautiful country’.
“I was in Dubai to attend the annual Mohammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum Creative Sports Awards ceremony, when my close friend (Habib Macki) requested me to pay a visit and meet the heads of the sports associations,” said Bubka. “This is my first visit and its a great opportunity to come here. And I am happy to ‘discover’ this beautiful country,” he said.
Bubka, who was in Dubai to receive, on behalf of Ukrainian Olympic Committee, top honour for ‘international sports body which achieved success based on values’, said: “I am honoured to receive this prestigious award for ‘team achievement based on values’ and I am even more glad to visit Oman to boost the relations.”
“Ukraine has a rich sporting history and we have been part of the Olympic movement since 1952 (Helsinki, Finland) Olympics. Though that time we were part of the Soviet Union, we were in the forefront in the sporting field. “Once we reach an agreement, the Oman can benefit from our from experience and expertise.”
“Both Olympic bodies will facilitate for the national federations to benefit from each other’s experience,” he said. “We will provide whatever assistance is needed. Oman can benefit from our experienced coaches and technical expertise. “Athletes can visit our country for coaching and training camps. We can think about conducing clinics and seminars,” he said adding: “My aim is to build a strong relationship. And once we start the sporting ties, it will be the first time Ukraine will have such a tie up with a Gulf country.”
In his comments, OOC chief Habib Macki said: “We all know the stature of Bubka and we are happy to have him here today.” “This is a very important visit. We will soon work out on the formalities of exchange programmes.” Macki also said while ‘we can benefit from Ukraine experience in sports like athletics, swimming and boxing’, they can also benefit from this association.
“The agreement will be mutually beneficial. Ukraine can utilise our excellent facilities here and we also have a good sailing body. They can benefit in these areas. “But most importantly the weather situation. When it is freezing cold in Ukraine, they can train during pleasant winter in our country.” Speaking about the development of sports in the Arab world, Bubka said: “I consider the sports in the region is developing very well. Today in the region we see a lot of governments, NOCs and national federation pay a great deal of attention to the development of sports.
“The Arab nations are also organising a number of international events which ultimately contribute to the development of sports. “Some of them have ‘unique’ and great facilities to attract the best athletes. But for some countries it may take some more time to make same kind of progress. What is needed is education, clinics and seminars. “This is were exchange programmes help and I am sure Oman can develop more if we reach an agreement at the earliest,” he said. OAA chairman Shaikh Saif Al Hosni and OOC General Secretary Hilal al Sinani were also present on the occasion.
From: http://main.omanobserver.om/node/137733
