Bank muscat Green Sports initiative makes headway

Green Sports initiative launched by bank muscat, as part of a unique Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) project aimed at contributing to developing a sporting nation, made headway as the bank signed the first of a series of agreements to support and finance sports clubs across Oman to green their playing fields. The signing ceremony was held in the bank's North Sharqiyah regional office in the wilayat of Ibra under the auspices ofShaikh Yahya bin Hamoud al Ma'amari, Governor of North Sharqiyah Governorate. Yousuf al Rawahi, Regional Manager -“ North and South Sharqiyah Governorates, signed the agreements on behalf of the bank with Humaid bin Said al Hajri, President of A'dhahar Team in Bidiya, and Khalfan bin Ahmed Al Habsi, President of Al Ittihad Team in Ibra. Shaikh Yahya bin Hamoud al Ma'amari appreciated bank muscat for motivating and supporting the youth in the country to build up a sporting nation. Shaikh Yahya said: "Sports and games are an important area for youth to show their talents and the Green Sports initiative provides the youth a real chance to develop their talents and show their potential in various sports and games. The bank muscat initiative is a fine example for the private sector to be a key partner in supporting the government to strengthen the sports infrastructure. We wish the initiative success.- Shaikh Saqr bin Sultan al Shukaily, Wali of Ibra, commended bank muscat for supporting and funding sports clubs across Oman. H.E Shaikh Saqr said: "The pioneering initiative has major importance and will contribute to building up proper sports infrastructure in the country. We are confident that many youngsters will benefit from this initiative and become sporting heroes for the country.- Saleh bin Mohammed Al Ma'amari, Member of Majlis Ash'shura in Ibra, said the bank muscat initiative was laudable as it was aimed at strengthening the sports infrastructure in Oman. Al Ma'amari said: "More than 50 per cent of the country's population comprise youth who needs to be encouraged for all-round development. This initiative will benefit a large segment of society.- Salem bin Ali al Hajri, Member of Majlis Ash'shura from the wilayat of Bidiya, commended the initiative aimed at supporting sports clubs and creating a favourable environment for them to excel in their respective arenas and develop their sporting talents. Yousuf al Rawahi thanked the dignitaries for attending the ceremony. He said the Green Sports initiative was aimed at promoting social responsibility. Al Rawahi said: "The bank will support all deserving clubs across the Sultanate to green their playing fields. To achieve the goals of the initiative, the project will continue for a period of five years and the bank will re-examine all applications in order to provide a fair chance to all. The initiative is a strategic decision by the bank in collaboration with the Ministry of Sports Affairs to promote Oman as a sporting nation.- The Green Sports initiative was launched by the bank early this year to lay the foundation at the grass-root level for a sustainable sports infrastructure across Oman. The five-year Green Sports programme has identified clubs across Oman to green their playing fields. The bank recognises that local clubs wield immense influence on neighbourhood communities, especially youth, hence clubs with modern infrastructure facilities can help raise sporting heroes for the country. The initiative is in line with the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), which has included Green Sports in its current 10-year program: Resolution 2997 XXVII. Sporting activities involving environmental commitment are now playing an increasingly important role at the global level in focusing recognition on protecting our planet. The Green Sports initiative allows bank muscat to closely align itself with the global UNEP programme. The bank will primarily develop green playing fields across Oman and launch many community projects targeting the youth, who represents 70 per cent of the Sultanate's population. Many CSR projects by bank muscat will be clustered around sports, an essential activity for everyone's well-being. These sports activities will take place in green fields developed by the bank. Al Rawahi added: "The Green Sports initiative reiterates the bank's support to Oman's youth who represent the future of Oman. The initiative also contributes to sustainable development and protection of the environment, thereby ensuring all-round development in Oman.- True to its commitment to supporting varied sporting activities in the country, bank muscat remains at the forefront in offering the required encouragement and support to youth. As the nation's leading financial institution, bank muscat aims to motivate other corporates to provide the required impetus for youth to excel in all arenas and thereby contribute to the development and progress of Oman. Shaikh Said bin Nasser al Hajri from the wilayat of Bidiya said the initiative will be a big boost to developing sporting talents in Oman. Abdullah bin Hamad Al Ghaithi, President of Al Ittifaq Club, commended the social responsibility initiative by bank muscat which will help create a favourable environment and help the youth to develop sporting talents. Mohammed bin Suleiman al Yahmadi, President of Bidiya Club, said the initiative will equip sporting heroes in the country. Humaid bin Said al Hajri, President of A'dhahar Team, expressed delight in his team being selected as a beneficiary for the Green Sports initiative. Al Hajri said: "The strengthening of the sports infrastructure will significantly contribute to the discovery of more young talents and provide appropriate sports infrastructure to organise various sporting events.- Khalfan bin Ahmed Al Habsi, President of Al Ittihad Team, thanked the bank for the novel initiative. Al Habsi said: "We are thankful to bank muscat for launching the Green Sports initiative, which will significantly raise the sporting infrastructure standards in Oman and help nurture a generation of sporting heroes. The initiative will encourage healthy living, which will have wider impact on the nation.- bank muscat is a strong supporter of sporting activities, especially football, and was the first private sector institution to announce support to the Oman national teams playing in the Asian qualifier for 2014 Fifa World Cup in Brazil and 2012 Olympics in London. The recent sports activities supported by the bank include Oman Sail's Women's Programme, an initiative bringing sailing into the lives of Omani women, aimed at empowering and encouraging them to develop sailing skills for recreation and career. bank muscat is the first Omani bank to establish a full-fledged CSR department. Considered among core values, the CSR policy stems from the bank's strong belief in the importance of social responsibility and reflects the concern and care for various segments of society. The bank is of the view that its social responsibility is not merely participation in charitable works and organisation of voluntary campaigns, but responsibility towards all-round development of society. bank muscat focuses on all types of projects that fall within the framework of social responsibility. The prime consideration includes the benefit reaching the largest number of individuals; the youth and job-seekers, and provision of opportunities for the development of skills/human capital. Efforts are also targeted at individuals with special needs to enhance their capabilities with the aim of integrating them into mainstream society. Times of Oman