This morning, Oman Camel Racing Association to sponsor the camel racing competition in the 2020/21 season signed an agreement with the Occidental Oman Incorporated. The sponsor for this agreement is His Excellency Sheikh Rashad bin Ahmed bin Muhammad bin Omair Al Hinai, Minister for Culture, Sports and Youth. A sponsorship agreement stipulates that Occidental Oman shall provide 20 cars for the concession areas in the governorates of Al Wusta, Al Dhahirah, and Al Dakhiliyah, and the general racing in Al Batinah North. In addition, an amount of OMR 4,000 for the organization of the races.
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Oman Camel Racing Association signed the agreement on behalf of Sheikh Saeed bin Saud Al Ghufaili, president of the federation, and Stephen Kelly CEO and General Manager of Occidental Oman Incorporated. This annual support comes from Occidental Oman Camel Racing. In addition to its duty and sense of responsibility towards the local community. This partnership gains great importance between Omani Camel Racing Federation and the Occidental Oman Company for the seventh year respectively.
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Real partnership
Sheikh Rashad bin Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Omair Al Hinai, the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Cultura, Sports, and Youth for Sports and Youth, mentions that the initiatives proposed by private companies to benefit the local community has an important. In addition, the signing of the agreement between the Camel Federation and Occidental Oman Incorporated. The real partnership between the general and private sectors creates an optimal environment for such sports activities and others that are held by the ministry. Moreover, His Excellency Sheikh, the Undersecretary for Sports and Youth reiterated that this partnership was formed to support the annual Omani Camel Federation races. There will certainly be a positive impact on the winners and participants of these competitions specifically. and on camel races in general impact. His Excellency Sheikh, we hope that the participants in these races will succeed and win top places. Additionally, I wish to thank Occidental Oman Company for its constant support of the Oman Camel Racing Federation in particular and the youth sector in general. Furthermore, I hope that other companies will follow suit in supporting activities and events.
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Maintaining the heritage and maximizing commercial and economic returns
On the other hand, Saif bin Khalfan Al Busaidi, Vice President of Human Resources and Social Responsibility of Occidental, explain that the company is always keen on introducing initiatives that benefit Oman society, as a commitment to contribute to sustainable social and economic development which return the benefit to this country and people. The social responsibility for Occidental Oman is committed to the arts and subsidizes sporting events in all of its fields especially camel racing, a treasured heritage in its concession areas. In addition, supports the government’s direction in preserving the Omani camel heritage, a part of an important Omani heritage economic and social. This is the aim of Occidental Oman to work with the Omani Camel Racing Federation, which strives to translate the guidelines of our reasonable government to pay attention to this heritage. For the seventh year respectively, the company has been keen on its exclusive sponsorship of camel races in Oman. It has been striving to harness its resources to provide everything required to complete this initiative and consolidate the relationship with the Omani society in a general way and the local community in particular. Moreover, the company has been aiming to harness its resources and offer everything necessary to complete this initiative, which is considered one of the urgent needs of the Omani society.
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Al Maskari added that the follower of the camel races in the Sultanate will find remarkable progress in it every year. Furthermore, we believe in the importance of this event and the positive impact it brings to participants, whose benefits cannot be limited to camel owners or contestants only but it involved many parties to cover several aspects as, the owners of small projects near the sites of these races. Also, the financial benefit from an increase in the price of camels of the same species, which is a significant economic gain. It is also important to note that the social benefit accompanying this event encourages camel breeders to acquire authentic camels, as well as educating the next generation about camel breeding as a source of income and as part of the heritage that Occidental Oman seeks to maintain through its continuing support for this event.
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We were pleased to sign this agreement
Sheikh Saeed bin Saud Al Ghufaili, The president of the Omani Camel Racing Federation said after signing the agreement that we are pleased to be signing this agreement with Occidental Oman and to have its support for the seventh year respectively. Moreover, 20 cars will be used for four races this year. We were pleased to sign this agreement with Occidental Oman and appreciate its continued support of camel racing for the seventh consecutive year. Twenty cars were presented for four important races this season, Sheikh Saeed bin Saud Al Ghufaili said after signing the agreement. In this season, twenty cars were presented for four important races based on the oil concession areas, Haima, Adam, and Ibri, as well as the general race in the Wilayat of Sohar in the Al Batinah North Governorate during the period 1 to 4 March 2021. In this way, the positive impact of this support will be for the residents of the concession areas and will serve as an incentive for them to participate and compete to become one of the first three places in the races to be crowned.
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Al-Ghufaili said this kind of initiative offered by private sector companies to the local community has a great place among camel breeders and owners. In addition, they have a positive impact on the citizen in economic terms and enrich the races. Therefore, as we have said before, private sector companies are required to provide more support and care for all sports activities in the Sultanate, and camel racing is a sport that needs more support.