(MENAFN- Muscat Daily) The Oman Olympic Committee (OOC) kicked off a major marketing initiative as part of its 'Sport for Development' programme on Sunday with the signing of a partnership agreement between the Oman Volleyball Association (OVA) and Omantel at Hormuz Grand on Sunday.
Hamdan al Harasi Omantel's vice-president for corporate strategy signed the one-year deal with Sheikh Badr al Rowas the OVA chairman in the presence of Khalid al Zubair the OOC chairman Sheikh Talal al Mamari the CEO of Omantel and other senior sports officials.
After the signing Zubair said 'This is a new initiative and it is much more than just a sponsorship agreement. It is not merely about monetary support as it involves a close relationship between Omantel and the national volleyball body.'
He added 'Omantel has adopted the OVA to raise the profile of the national association as well as the game of volleyball.
A file photo of the Oman volleyball team in action against Qatar during a GCC tournament in Muscat
'Moreover Omantel will help in the marketing of the sport a step that had never been taken. While Omantel will be the major supporter it will also facilitate more sponsors as part of the agreement.'
OVA chairman Rowas said 'I am thankful to Khalid al Zubair the OOC board and Omantel for picking us as the first national association to be part of the project. We will use the funds to promote the sport at the age-group level in the clubs.'
Omantel CEO Mamari said 'We have been the leading corporate sector in supporting sports in the sultanate and we are happy to be the first to partner the OOC. 'We support the Olympic movement and it is the OOC that recommended that the agreement should be signed with the OVA.'
Elaborating on the concept of the new initiative Zubair said 'This idea was mooted by our marketing committee which had leaders from the private sector as members. 'We wanted to take a step ahead of mere sponsorship as this project is not just about giving away money for a particular tournament or an event.'
The OOC chairman added 'We are acting as a bridge between the private sector and our associations. The partnership agreement is not a commercial venture but for a national cause. I am certain that a new chapter has opened in the relationship between the OOC and the corporates.
'We now expect the national sports associations to take advantage of the partnership and give something back to the country by coming up with good results.'
The OOC chief said talks are in the final stages to secure a few more agreements as part of the same initiative between top corporates and national sports associations and 'we would be announcing it as they materialise'.
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