Muscat: The Sultanate of Oman will host the 5th West Asian Paralympic Games (Muscat 2026), which will be held in Muscat from 1 to 8 February 2026, with the participation of 600 athletes. The tournament will be organized under the supervision of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth, in cooperation with Oman Paralympic Committee and the West Asia Para Federation.
According to Oman News Agency, Dr. Mansour Sultan Al Touqi, Chairman of Oman Paralympic Committee, emphasized that hosting this regional sporting event demonstrates the growing interest in Paralympic sports in Oman. The event reflects the confidence of regional committees in Oman due to its expertise in organizing major events and its integrated sports infrastructure. The tournament is designed to align with international standards in terms of competition, arbitration, and medical ratings.
Al Touqi highlighted that the tournament will feature the participation of 108 national referees and 35 international referees, alongside a specialized team to manage results electronically. A total of 11 countries, including Oman, Qatar, Lebanon, Jordan, Bahrain, Yemen, Palestine, Syria, Iraq, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia, will compete in the tournament.
Competitions will encompass nine main sports: athletics, weightlifting, boccia, table tennis, badminton, cycling, swimming, goalball, and wheelchair basketball. Medical teams and ambulances will be available throughout the tournament, with 13 international classifiers participating in the medical classification of about 100 athletes.
In terms of anti-doping measures, coordination with the Oman Anti-Doping Committee is in place to ensure participant safety and compliance with approved systems. Security and safety measures are being coordinated with relevant authorities for the opening ceremony, competitions, and cycling races.
The opening ceremony is scheduled for 3 February 2026 at Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex in Bausher at 8:00 pm. Saud Badr Ambusaidi, Chairman of the Public Relations Committee, confirmed that an integrated plan is in place to manage accommodation and transport logistics, including meetings of the Executive Office and the General Assembly of the West Asia Para Federation.
Ziana Abdullah Al Ya'rubi, Head of the Sports Facilities and Services Committee, stated that preparations are underway to equip stadiums and sports facilities to meet the needs of athletes with disabilities. Athletic games, badminton, table tennis, and wheelchair basketball will take place at Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex in Bausher. Al Amal Club hall will host goalball, while boccia competitions are set for Oman Club, and cycling competitions will occur on tracks belonging to the Civil Aviation Authority.