MUSCAT: Chairman of the Kuwait Air Sports Club Ahmad Al-Shallahi stressed on Monday the importance of participating in regional and international sports tournaments and championships to raise the technical and physical level of players and enable them to acquire more experience and new sports skills. This came in a statement made by Al-Shallahi to Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) on the sidelines of Kuwait’s participation in the third edition of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Beach Games (Muscat 2025), hosted by the Sultanate of Oman from April 5 to 11.

Al-Shallahi said that holding such sports tournaments among the GCC countries aims to enhance communication and cohesion among the Gulf brothers, in addition to developing and improving beach sports according to international standards. He explained that the Kuwaiti air sports team started its first participation last Saturday through the paragliding competition at (North Hail Beach) with 4 athletes: Ibrahim Al-Rashoud, Ahmed Al-Mas, Mohammed Al-Dosari and Talal Al-Mutawa.

The team participated in 6 rounds spread over two days, 3 rounds on the first day and 3 rounds on the second day at the conclusion of this competition. He praised the continuous support and assistance of the Kuwait Olympic Committee to the Kuwaiti air team, under the directives of the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Committee, Sheikh Fahad Nasser Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah and the members of the board, as well as their provision of all necessary capabilities and facilities and the creation of appropriate conditions for the team’s participation in the competitions of this Gulf tournament.

Al-Shallahi also expressed his thanks and appreciation to the Sultanate of Oman, represented by the Oman Olympic Committee, for the warm welcome and hospitality accorded to the Kuwaiti delegation, praising the efforts made for the success of the tournament, which highlights the Sultanate’s organizational capabilities and its benefit from its geographical location and extended coastline.

The third edition of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Beach Games (Muscat 2025) kicked off on Saturday and will continue until April 11 with the participation of 330 athletes, 65 of whom represent Kuwait, competing in six of the eight games scheduled for the tournament Kuwait is participating in beach soccer, beach volleyball, sailing, air sports (paragliding), athletics, in addition to the equestrian sport of pegging. The tournament also includes beach handball and long-distance swimming. — KUNA