Riyadh, Saudi Arabia — For the first time, Riyadh will host the Peace and Sport Middle East Forum, powered by the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee on 18-19 October.
The forum will be held under the theme, “Sport is an answer for peace”, at the Cultural Palace in Riyadh-based Diplomatic Quarter in cooperation with the Peace and Sport organization.
The forum aims to deploy sports to spread positive values, attitudes, and behavior to consolidate international peace, given the sports’ strong influence and role as a global communication tool and a language spoken by all.
Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki bin Faisal, the Minister of Sports and Chairman of the Saudi Olympic & Paralympic Committee, said the Saudi leadership’s support has helped turn the Kingdom into a hub for major international sports events.
The minister welcomed all participants at the forum from around the world in their second home, hoping that it would contribute to enhancing the role of sports in achieving international peace.
Al Nassr’s surprise capture of football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo has been one of the high-profile sports acquisitions by Saudi Arabia. The kingdom is attempting to attract foreign interest as it diversifies its economy away from oil.
Here are some of the moves that have turned Saudi Arabia into a major player in sports:
Winter sports
Saudi Arabia, a mostly desert country where summer temperatures touch 50 degrees Celsius (122 degrees Fahrenheit), raised eyebrows in October when it was chosen to host the 2029 Asian Winter Games.
The event will be held at NEOM, an under-construction $500 billion megacity that is planning a year-round winter sports complex.
Five years later, the capital Riyadh will put on the 2034 Asian Games, an Olympic-style multi-sports event. Hosting an Olympics is the kingdom’s “ultimate goal”, Sports Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal told AFP in August.
Formula One
The glitzy world of F1 zoomed in to Jeddah, the Red Sea city that is a gateway for pilgrims headed to Makkah, in 2021 with a night race flanking the coastline. It is one of four grands prix to be held in the wealthy Gulf this year.
Last year’s edition was overshadowed by an attack by Huthi rebels from Yemen, Saudi’s war-torn neighbour, that left oil facilities belching black smoke within sight of the circuit during practice sessions.
Football
In October 2021, well before the swoop for Ronaldo, a Saudi-funded consortium completed its takeover of English Premier League club Newcastle United following a protracted wrangle with regulators.
Fans of the “sleeping giant”, who had been at odds with the previous owner for years, celebrated by donning Arab headdresses at St. James’s Park stadium. Newcastle have enjoyed a rise in fortunes and currently lie third in the table.
Meanwhile Saudi Arabia, which will host the 2027 Asian Cup and hopes to hold the women’s edition in 2026, has held talks with Egypt and Greece about a joint World Cup bid, according to officials.
Golf
Saudi money has created a schism in the golf world with the heavily funded LIV Tour, which has lured some top players with record-breaking prize money and eye-watering signing-on fees.
Former world number one Dustin Johnson has been one of the prime beneficiaries, scooping $35 million in total prize money in the inaugural season — on top of a reported $150 million just for agreeing to play.
Despite enraging golf’s establishment, LIV will expand its 54-hole, part-team format this year with a 14-tournament international schedule offering a record $405 million in prize money.
Boxing
British heavyweight Anthony Joshua has fought twice in Saudi Arabia, earning a big payday each time while swatting off criticism over alleged sportswashing.
Joshua won his revenge match against America’s Andy Ruiz in King Abdullah Sports City in December 2019, before returning in August last year when he was outclassed by Ukrainian maestro Oleksandr Usyk.
Cricket
Last year Saudi Aramco, the world’s biggest oil exporter and one of its richest companies, embarked on a sponsorship of major events organised by the International Cricket Council, including the men’s and women’s one-day and T20 World Cups.
Rallying
The Dakar Rally, initially raced between Paris and the Senegalese capital, has been held on Saudi Arabia’s unforgiving terrain since 2020.
Last year’s edition was plunged into controversy when French driver Philippe Boutron was seriously wounded in an explosion that French investigators said was caused by an improvised explosive device stowed on his car.
Racing
Saudi Arabia has galloped to the fore in horse racing with the $20 million Saudi Cup, the world’s richest race. The last two editions have been won by Saudi-owned horses, including 66-1 longshot Emblem Road’s victory last year.