Muscat: The second edition of the Oman Golf Trophy 2024 is poised to make significant strides in promoting Oman as a sports destination, with over 7,000 players expected to participate and 80 qualifying rounds to be held across seven countries.
Building on the success of the inaugural edition in Italy and Oman from 2022 to 2023, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth, Oman Golf Association, and other stakeholders, is expanding the event.
Compared to the first edition, which saw the participation of 800 players from two nations, the 2024 event will witness the involvement of 7,400 players from seven nations. A total of 80 qualifying rounds will take place from April to October, determining the players who will qualify for the grand finale at Al Mouj Golf in Muscat from December 9-12.
The details of the second Oman Golf Trophy were unveiled during a press conference held at the Royal Opera House Muscat. Senior representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth, and Oman Golf Association (OGA) were present at the event, including Khalid bin Hashil Al Muselhi, Undersecretary of the Foreign Ministry for Administrative and Financial Affairs, Basil bin Ahmed Al-Rawas, Undersecretary for Sports and Youth at the Ministry of Culture Sports and Youth, and Mundhir Al Barwani, OGA President.
The Oman Golf Trophy 2024 is expected to attract a wide range of golf enthusiasts, both local and international, further solidifying Oman's reputation as a top sports tourism destination.
With 160 players competing for the prestigious trophy, the finale of the tournament promises to be an exciting event.
During the launch of the second edition, Al Muslahi emphasized that the initiative aims to showcase Oman as a prime tourism destination and establish a connection with golf enthusiasts, including businesspeople and high net worth individuals. Additionally, it seeks to highlight Oman's potential by attracting investors, business owners, tourists, and media from participating countries, positioning it as an appealing destination for golf and other sports.
Al Rawas highlighted that the Oman Golf Trophy is the first championship representing the 'Sultanate of Oman' to be held abroad. This year's edition will expand to seven participating countries in the qualifying rounds, compared to the previous year's event held in Italy and Oman. This expansion presents a significant opportunity to promote investment prospects, particularly in sports tourism, aligning with Oman's Vision 2040.
Al Barwani, the president of the Oman Golf Association (OGA), stated that the Oman Golf Trophy is an initiative supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to promote Oman through the unified national plan team. The inaugural edition took place in Italy from September to November 2022, attracting 800 participants in the qualifying rounds. Fourteen players qualified for the final round at Al Mouj Golf, where Enrico Pardazi emerged as the men's champion and Barbara Moratti claimed the women's title.
The partnership between the public and private sectors is highlighted through this initiative, emphasizing their joint commitment to promoting Oman. The Oman Golf Trophy seeks to engage a global audience and emphasize Oman's openness to investors, tourists, athletes, adventurers, luxury enthusiasts, and people from all walks of life.
The qualifying rounds for the December finale in Muscat will take place in Italy (April to October), Austria (April to September), Germany (April to October), South Africa (May to August), India (August to November), France (September to October), and Japan (August to October).
