Enhancing the Non-Oil based Economic Activity through the Untapped Potentials of the Sports Sector in Oman: Economic Diversification and Sustainable Development

The aim of this research is to investigate the current state of the Omani sports sector and its contribution to economic activity. Furthermore, a national framework for the sports sector will be developed to enhance the non-oil based economic activity in Oman. The study will present plans to restructure and redevelop the Omani sports sector in a sustainable manner in light of Vision 2040. Additionally, it will examine global experiences, sports policies, and models on how sports contribute to advancing the economy without burdening the government, through hosting sports events, sports clubs? development, and foreign investments. The government and some private entities have recently taken a few steps to promote the sports in Oman through hosting IPL cricket matches and infrastructure development, however it is unknown how much such activities contribute to the Omani GDP. The sports sector in Oman, like other developing countries, has financial and non-financial obstacles; however, the research in the sports sector in Oman has rarely received attention from researchers and research funding organizations. In line with the Oman 2040 Vision, such as strengthening the national economy, diversification of incomes, foreign direct investments, and sustainable development, it is important to reconsider the sports sector and its services which have remained unexplored. An objective and sustainable framework at national level is needed in Oman to extract the economic benefits that the west has successfully explored and to some extent. The study will not only help in realizing the economic benefits of sports activity but will also add self-sufficiency and self-financing in the sports sector. The global sports market in 2021 was USD 440.77 billion and it is expected to reach USD 599.9 billion (2025). The sports sector contributed 2% to European Union global GDP and employment of 7.3 million which is equivalent to 3.5% of the total European Union employment in 2014. The expenses such as events, salaries, construction, maintenance, etc. have necessitated the measures in the forms of private investments in the sports sector of western countries. The experiences of the sports sector in the west show that private investments have been successful in meeting the financial obligations and preparing players to ever change the game's tactics. However, the sports sectors in Oman has not received much attention from the policy makers as a potential source of revenues since no study and research has been conducted at national and governorate level in Oman. Therefore, the current study will investigate the various sources of revenues from the sports sectors in the west and how these sources could be used in the context of Omani sports sectors. The research will use the mixed method due to the extensive and varied nature of the study. It will employ economic modeling techniques, exploratory, and explanatory research methods. The questionnaires survey, interviews, and focus group discussion will be used in qualitative and quantitative analysis. The data collection will be done from the sports communities and people affiliated with the institutions in Oman such as Ministry of Economy, Ministry of Sports, Culture, and Youth, Oman Olympic Committee, Omani Federations and Committees, sports clubs and teams, civil society, health clubs, and sports complexes from all over the 11 Omani governorate. The statistical as well neural network techniques will be used to prepare the framework for the prediction of economic outcomes, sports sector development, as well as various factors that might contribute to the advancements. Furthermore, the researchers will utilize appropriate aspects of sports development and promotion frameworks in other countries (such as European countries) to ensure sound developmental aspects are embedded in the Omani sports sector, which is appropriate to Oman with an emerging ?sport-interest? and in light of the goals of Oman Vision 2040.