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Saudi Arabia’s delegation of athletes to the Olympic Games in Tokyo this month is its largest ever, as the Kingdom continues to build its homegrown sports talent and develop young athletes. The Kingdom has participated in 11 Olympics, with its first athlete competing in 1976 in Montreal.
Saudi Arabia sailed to a victory over Uzbekistan on a final, decisive day of the Asia region’s Round 2 qualifying matches to march on to Round 3 in hopes of qualifying for the World Cup in 2022. Saudi Arabia cruised past nearest challengers Uzbekistan 3-0 on June 15 to win Group D.
Saudi Arabia released new guidelines for resident travelers who are vaccinated, allowing them to travel abroad and return if they do not enter or pass through certain countries.
The world’s number one golfer, Dustin Johnson, handily held off some of the sport’s biggest names making last minute pushes to claim the Saudi International golf title at the Royal Greens Golf and Country Club.
Saudi Arabia’s flagship annual golf tournament begins Thursday with world number one golfer Dustin Johnson as the favorite to win at the Royal Greens Golf Club in King Abdullah Economic City, Saudi Arabia. The Saudi Invitational, presented by the Public Investment Fund offers a purse of €3,019,002 ($3,630,712.19), with the strongest-yet field of 138 players set to compete. 12 Major […]
Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) announced a new five-year investment strategy, including its own Vision Realization Program (VRP) 2021-2025, with the goal of doubling its assets to 4 trillion riyals ($1.07 trillion) by 2025, according to comments made by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in a public appearance on Sunday.
The field of competitors for next month’s Saudi International powered by Softbank Investment Advisers is growing as another top golfer in the world has joined some of the sports biggest names confirmed to compete in Saudi Arabia. Five-time PGA Tour winner Kevin Na, who won the PGA Tour’s Sony Open in Hawaii on Sunday, is […]
Qatar-based TV channel beIN Sports was broadcast in Saudi Arabia on Monday after the two countries reconciled this month, ending a rift of more than three years, according to Reuters. The sports channel was barred from broadcasting in Saudi Arabia since mid-2017, when relations between the two countries were suspended, and was even the subject of international litigation between […]
More international golf stars have joined the growing list of players who have committed to playing in the Saudi International at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club, beginning February 4th 2021. Norwegian youngster Viktor Hovland and American Ryder Cup star Tony Finau are the latest top international stars to confirm their entry for the third edition […]
The Royal Saudi Air Force has received the last F-15SA advanced fighter aircraft from the United States as part of a massive $29bn foreign military sales (FMS) agreement agreed to with the Obama administration in 2010. An advanced version of the F-15S, the F-15SA is equipped with several capabilities to enable the Royal Saudi Air Force […]
At the heart of Qiddiya’s vision is the Gaming and Esports District. This world-first mixed-use gaming and esports hub is set to become a global magnet for gaming enthusiasts. It will host major events like the Esports World Cup and house the regional headquarters of leading video game companies. The district will include four dedicated esports venues, including one with the largest indoor LED screen in any esports arena and another among the top three largest esports venues globally.
Stadium specialist Populous has released new concept images of its state-of-the-art esports arena at Qiddiya in Saudi Arabia. The Populous-designed esports arena is part of Qiddiya City’s gaming and esports district. It will offer the largest combined amount of video screens of any esports arena in the world, as well as 4D haptic seats.
The 5,155-seat arena will be able to adapt to multiple experiences and events. Populous has carried out sightline studies to provide the best views in the main auditorium.
"Is there a revolution? Yeah, there’s a revolution like when people went to Vegas." He added, "When Vegas opened, people asked who on Earth is going to go to the middle of the desert, but this is a game-changer. Saudi is the destination for big-time boxing." And that seems to be coming true as a "trickle has turned into a torrent" in terms of the number of fights held in Saudi Arabia.
At the dawn of 2023, the specter of Saudi Arabia’s growing influence on pro golf — and sports in general — served not only as a moral conundrum for players and their fans, but also, some argued, as an existential threat to the multibillion-dollar professional-sports industry itself. Twelve months later, it’s a different conversation, now virtually devoid of concern about the supposed menace of “sportswashing” and the line between “right” and “wrong,” and more fixed on just how rich the Saudis might make all these athletes before they’re done investing.
Populous designs feature a 5,155-seat venue with one of the world’s largest combined total areas of video screens, plus a ‘digital chandelier’ above the main seating auditorium.
Saudi Arabia has been crystal clear in its intentions to buy into as many pro sports outfits as possible — but sealing lucrative deals isn’t as easy as it looks. Several British media outlets recently reported that the 2024 WTA Finals will be held in the Middle East nation as part of a major deal surrounding the season-ending event of tennis’ top women’s tour. However, the WTA tells Reuters that no decision has been made about a venue or location for next November’s tournament. “We are in discussions with various groups surrounding the 2024 WTA Finals and beyond,” a WTA spokesperson said.
Saudi Arabia has invested around £5bn in sports since 2021, when the country's Crown Prince made it a key part of his strategy to diversify the economy, with a host of major sporting events brought to the kingdom, including high-profile boxing and Formula 1.
The country's Public Investment Fund has also launched the breakaway LIV golf series, taken control of four Saudi Pro League clubs and purchased Newcastle United.
Saudi Arabia's sports minister says claims of 'sportswashing' against the country are "very shallow", as he defended its right to host the men's football World Cup.
Speaking to the BBC in Jeddah, Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Faisal said: "A lot of the people that accuse us of that haven't been to Saudi, or seen what we are doing."
Critics say unprecedented spending on sport has been used to improve the oil-producing kingdom's reputation over its human rights record and its environmental impact.
But the Saudi government insists the investment is boosting the economy, opening it up to tourism and inspiring people to be more active.
First, sportswashing can be a lazy rebuttal to the kingdom’s investment in sports and, in general, the Middle East. The definition of “sportswashing,” which is the practice of using sports to improve reputation, can be rather expansive in practice. Yes, we can all agree Qatar hosted the 2022 World Cup to elevate the reputation of the country. So did Brazil with the 2016 Summer Olympics and South Africa with the 2010 World Cup and so will countries in the future. Saudi officials clearly know that sports can bring good attention to a country. (The Ministry of Culture has a nice selfie on Instagram from NBA great Lebron James’s visit during September this year…yes Lebron James was in Saudi Arabia.) That said, it is not the sole reason for investing in sports, but it is obviously low-hanging fruit for politicians, because it will always contain some truth.
Saudi Arabia was named as the lone bidder for the 2034 World Cup on Tuesday, a major success that follows a string of high-profile sports acquisitions. The conservative Gulf monarchy, often criticised over its human rights record, is attempting to burnish its image and attract tourists and investment as it tries to diversify its economy away from oil. Here are some of the moves that have turned Saudi Arabia into a major player in sports
