From establishing its first female football league and increasing its support of athletics at every level of society, to hosting the largest traditional sporting events in the world including horse racing and falconry,Saudi Arabia has set its sights on becoming a nation where sports are part and parcel of its identity. As part of its efforts to boost participation in sports and to have a more active society, the Kingdom has announced this week that it will host its biggest sporting yet.
#SaudiGames
— Foreign Ministry (@KSAmofaEN) February 28, 2020
"The largest sporting event in the region" pic.twitter.com/R6LoFVFDfr
Held in Saudi Arabia’s capital city Riyadh between March 23 and April 1, The Saudi Games will gather 6,000 female and male athletes expected to participate in 40 sports, including swimming, basketball, athletics, archery. The highest gold medalist prize is set at one million riyals (around USD 266,500), while the second place will receive 300,000 riyals and third place 100,000 riyals. The event will also have some 2,000 technical and administrative supervisors from 13 provinces in the Kingdom.
Today I was proud to launch the biggest sporting event in the Kingdom’s history. 6000 athletes from all provinces will compete in 40 sports across 17 venues in Riyadh. National champions will be crowned. Role models will emerge. Future generations will be inspired. #Saudigames
— عبدالعزيز بن تركي الفيصل (@AbdulazizTF) February 26, 2020
Speaking at the launch event in Riyadh, Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki explained that the theme of the event will be “Heroes Amongst Us.” He also shared his pride of Saudi Arabia launching the biggest sporting event in its history.
“It is a new, happy day that brings with it a new sporting event to be added to the myriad of events organized or hosted by the Kingdom in its history and in the last three years in particular […] All of this would not have been achieved without the unwavering care, attention and support accorded by King Salman and the crown prince to the sports sector,” he said.
