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MUSCAT: Oman’s Ministry of Sports Affairs have once again joined hands with France-based company, Gerard Fusil Consultants (GFC), to announce the second edition of the unique Oman Adventure race.
This is a bike and run event that is considered to be one of the toughest adventure events across the world. It will be held this year from December 17-22.
Ministry co-ordinator Salim al Masroori said the race will witness more teams participating than last year’s 26. There would also be an increase in the number of Omani teams in the race this year, he added.
The gruelling bike and run race, that comprises a couple with a bike, will take the participants from Barkat al Moz to the top of Jabel al Akhtar.
Participants will have to cross valleys, mountainous terrain, canyons, ponds and wadis before reaching the Hazm Castle on a night leg. The event concludes with the sixth leg at the Al Sawadi Beach Resort. During all stages, the participants will stay in camps.
The six stages will cover a distance of 30-50km on each leg and a total distance of 230km is likely to be covered during the six-day event, which will be organised immediately after the 2006 Asian Games in Doha
No distinction is made this year between the Extreme and Adventure categories by giving them different routes. Teams are automatically moved to Adventure when time limits are exceeded or when they fail to finish a stage. The organisers will also provide competitors with a map of the route and GPS points.
GFC’s Gerard Fusil said the aim of the unique race, which respects nature and environment, was to popularise Oman as an ideal adventure tourism destination and added they had already received 36 entries. “We hope to attract more Omani teams and I am sure the sports ministry would encourage the teams to come and take part in such races,” he said.
He stated the 2005 event was a great success and was telecast on all major TV networks in Europe and America, which underlines a great potential of the country. GFC would also produce live montage of the event to be telecast every evening. The registration fee for each team is $765. The top prize is $4,467. Runners-up will receive $2,042 and the third place will receive $1,276.
