Istanbul, Doha, Baku, Rome, Madrid and Tokyo are all bidding for the 2020 Games, but with the Omani team about to compete at Sailing Arabia – The Tour, Graham insists they are thinking years ahead already.

Since making their Olympic debut at Los Angeles in 1984, Oman has never competed in sailing at the Games.

"We are very sure of what we are doing, we have very decidedly set our sights on the 2020 Olympics – that's what we are looking at right now," Graham was quoted as saying by the Muscat Daily.

"We have given the 2016 Olympic Games [to be held in Rio de Janeiro] a thought, but we are being more realistic and practical, we are seriously looking at 2020."

In Saudi Arabia will be an all-women international crew, headed by British sailor Dee Caffari as well as Intisar Al Tobi, Raya Al Habsi, Tahira Al Yahyai and Khulood Al Kindi.

Oman has a proud sailing history, and as well as attempting to find success at international level, Oman Sail is a key part of the country's tourism strategy.

Caffari, who has been training the country's female sailors for the last month, believes that Oman can become a force in the years to come with the backing behind the project.

"It's been just a few months that the women sailors here have been training to sail, and I'm already amazed at the enthusiasm," said Caffari, who in 2006 became the first woman to sail single-handedly and non-stop around the world "the wrong way"; westward against the prevailing winds and currents.

"From what I see, they do have big plans of preparing teams for the Olympics.

"And the talent is there for it to be achieved.

"The coming years should be interesting as the pool of Omani sailors increases.

"It's common for enthusiasts to take to sailing, what's uncommon is for them to continue doing it."

The 2012 Sailing Arabia – The Tour takes place from February 9 to 27, with six international teams competing along the gulf coast, from Manama in Bahrain and finishing in Muscat, Oman.

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