ITB Host Country 2024 Oman: A journey to sporting excellence

More than 3,000 kilometres of coastline, two huge sandy deserts, two high mountain massifs and more than 60 wadis – Oman is not only a dream destination for outdoor lovers; athletes, too, always find a new challenge here. Whether cycling, running or doing a triathlon - the calendar of sporting events in the Sultanate promises top physical and mental performances in the midst of spectacular nature.

Competition in the midst of spectacular natural surroundings

The world’s trail running fan base is constantly increasing and looking towards Oman this November for the Himam Trail Run Race. Different formats with various distances offer beginners, ambitious sportspeople and athletes perfect opportunities to test their limits, for example over 22 kilometers (530 meters in altitude), 54 kilometers (2,340 meters in altitude) and 114 kilometers (5,700 meters in altitude). The fascinating landscapes that runners will cross contribute to an unforgettable sporting experience. https://himam.om

All cross the desert, please!
Every year in January (20 to 23 January 2024), the Oman Desert Marathon awaits adventurers. It starts in the oasis of Bidiyah and leads participants in four stages of 28, 35, 42 and 60 kilometres across the Sharqiyah Sands desert to the Arabian Sea. The runners carry their own equipment such as sleeping bag and food, this way reaching the most remote sand dunes and highest elevations of the desert. https://marathonoman.com

Also in January (26 January 2024), amateur runners and professionals meet at Muscat Marathon in the Omani capital. Sports enthusiasts choose from a marathon, half marathon and a ten-kilometre run through the most beautiful streets of Muscat. https://muscatmarathon.om

Meeting of the "toughest athletes in the world".
One of the occasions is the IRONMAN 70.3 Oman Muscat. The number 70.3 stands for the miles of the triathlon, which guides endurance athletes through the three disciplines of swimming, cycling and running over a distance of the equivalent of 113 kilometres. The course includes a 1.9-kilometre swim in the sea off the coast of Muscat, 90.1 kilometres of cycling through the capital and finally a 21.1-kilometre run through the city. Muscat will host the triathlon on 17 February 2024, while athletes will meet in the far south of the country for IRONMAN 70.3 Oman Salalah on 24 September 2024. www.ironman.com/im703-oman

Musandam, the northernmost region of Oman, is nicknamed the "Norway of Arabia" for its sheltered fjords and uninhabited hilltops. It provides the backdrop for an off-road sporting event of superlatives: XTERRA Musandam. From 1 to 2 March 2024, extreme athletes may choose between various competitions, including a triathlon race at the end of which the champion of the event will be crowned. www.xterraplanet.com/event/xterra-musandam

Even more thrills
After the competition is before the next challenge – so why not use the time in Oman to abseil down the 180-metre section of Jabal Shams, with 3,075 metres the highest mountain in the Sultanate? Adventurous canyoning tours in wadis like the Snake Gorge, climbing on the 1,000-metre-high cliffs of the Jabal Misht in the western Hajar Mountains or diving with rays, turtles and whale sharks in Musandam also await hard-working athletes as rewarding experiences.

Further information on the Official Host Country of ITB Berlin 2024 can be found at www.experienceoman.om.