Saudi Sports for All Federation launches 6-month basketball program for Kingdom’s expats

The launch of the Basketball Program for Residents is in line with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 goals. (Supplied)
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Updated 21 February 2023
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Saudi Sports for All Federation launches 6-month basketball program for Kingdom’s expats

  • The Kingdom’s expats will be able to show off their skills while keeping fit
  • Program is open to male residents between the age of 24 and 60

RIYADH: The Saudi Sports for All Federation launched a six-month resident basketball program that will last until June 2023, aiming to meet the needs of basketball fans, stimulate competition, and encourage communities residing in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to practice the sport.

The first Basketball Program for Residents league began on Dec. 9, 2022, at Tarbiyah Namouthajiyah International School in Riyadh’s Al-Rayan neighborhood, with the SFA welcoming a diverse group of fans, players, and spectators to launch the program in exciting fashion.

Open to male participants between the age of 24 and 60, over 1,000 players are expected to take part in the program. Taking place from December 2022 to June 2023, basketball matches will be held every Friday as part of an ongoing league, with teams vying for top spot and honors.

The launch of the Basketball Program for Residents is in line with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 goals. It builds upon the SFA’s work to raise physical activity levels in the country and will help empower more people to lead healthier and more active lives.

The new initiative marks another milestone on the SFA’s journey to creating a healthier Saudi Arabia. Working closely with the Saudi Arabian Basketball Federation, the SFA aims to enhance the Kingdom’s basketball culture and stimulate interest in the sport.

The SFA, in cooperation with the Saudi Basketball Federation, looks forward to unifying its efforts and launching an innovative program. Both entities will leverage their resources and networks to realize the country’s basketball — and sports — potential, offering access to more basketball experiences, events, and provisions for communities to take full advantage of.

The introduction of the Basketball Program for Residents follows the success of previous and ongoing SFA expat programs, including the National Cricket Championship, an initiative set up to encourage and facilitate a healthy and active lifestyle by harnessing the popularity of the beloved bat-and-ball game. In 2020, the SFA also joined forces with the Mantra Rays swim team to host a swimming program for young expats. Participants, representing 16 different nationalities, took part in the program, competing across six different age groups.


Cristiano Ronaldo to stream Riyadh Season Premier Padel P1 finals live on his YouTube channel

Updated 17 February 2025
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Cristiano Ronaldo to stream Riyadh Season Premier Padel P1 finals live on his YouTube channel

  • World first for the sport as Premier Padel and Al-Nassr star collaborate to promote players globally

RIYADH: Cristiano Ronaldo will be streaming the finals of the Riyadh Season Premier Padel P1 on his YouTube channel, as a part of his continued backing of the sport’s leading professional tour.

Ronaldo’s channel has over 74 million followers with access available in over 130 countries worldwide.

This initiative marks another significant step in Ronaldo’s commitment to growing the sport following his high-profile appearances during the Riyadh Season Premier Padel P1 tournament.

Coverage starts at 6 p.m. Saudi Arabia time on Monday.


Saudi Arabia makes debut at Asian Winter Games as 9th edition begins

Updated 07 February 2025
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Saudi Arabia makes debut at Asian Winter Games as 9th edition begins

  • The event marks a milestone for Saudi Arabia, which is making its debut at the multi-sport competition as it gears up to host the 2029 Games

HARBIN, China: The 9th Asian Winter Games opened on Friday in Harbin, China, with a ceremony led by Chinese President Xi Jinping.

The event marks a milestone for Saudi Arabia, which is making its debut at the multi-sport competition as it gears up to host the 2029 Games. The Saudi Winter Sports Federation, originally established in 2019, was restructured in 2022 into two separate governing bodies: the Saudi Ice Sports Federation and the Saudi Snow Sports Federation.

The Kingdom’s delegation at the games is headed by Prince Fahd bin Jalawi bin Abdulaziz bin Musaed, vice president of the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee and Member of the Executive Office of the Olympic Council of Asia.

The event runs until Feb. 18 and will feature around 1,500 athletes from 34 Asian countries. Among the Saudi participants, the Kingdom’s curling team is set to compete in five matches from Feb. 9 to 12 — facing off against teams from Qatar, China, Hong Kong, Japan, and Thailand — while three Saudi alpine skiers will compete in the slalom events: Fayik Abdi in the men’s, and Sharifa Al-Sudairi and Farhoud Joud in the women’s.

As the Kingdom continues to expand its sporting ambitions, its participation in the Asian Winter Games “represents another step in its broader vision to develop a competitive winter sports ecosystem on the international stage,” the Saudi Press Agency reported.


Riyadh set for big UFC Fight Night as Adesanya takes on rising contender Imavov

Updated 31 January 2025
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Riyadh set for big UFC Fight Night as Adesanya takes on rising contender Imavov

  • Strong card on Feb. 1 at the anb Arena marks the UFC’s first event of the year in the region

RIYADH: The UFC returns here Saturday with a blockbuster middleweight main event featuring former world champion Israel “The Last Stylebender” Adesanya and rising contender Nassourdine “The Sniper” Imavov.

Adesanya, the UFC’s No. 2-ranked middleweight, says he is ready for the fight against Imavov at Riyadh’s anb Arena, which marks the company’s first event in the region this year.

“This fight is for me,” Adesanya said at a press conference on Thursday. “I’m doing this to prove to myself that I’m still in the game and dangerous.”

Commenting on his opponent, Adesanya said: “He’s good and he’s a young guy coming up but it’s my job to send him back down, respectfully.

“There’s nothing that he brings that I haven’t seen, it’s up to him to show me something that I haven’t seen before.”

Imavov, currently ranked No. 5, spoke about the challenge ahead: “I’m very good, I’m fast, I’m accurate and I can’t wait for this fight. I’m preparing a surprise for you on Saturday night.”

He added: “I don’t focus too much on him (Adesanya), I focus on myself and I hope he’s going to be in the best shape so I can beat the best of him.”

Middleweight Shara Magomedov, who takes on Michael “Venom” Page in the co-main event, said about his return to the Kingdom: “I’m happy to show the fans the fight they deserve. Page doesn’t understand what he has in front of him.”

Magomedov added: “He’s not going to be able to hide away from my bullets, I’m here to show him that I’m the greatest fighter in the world.”

Page expressed excitement about fighting in Riyadh: “Saudi Arabia is becoming the hub of combat sports, and I love being here and being so welcomed by you guys, I appreciate every one of the fans for coming to be with us.”

When asked about Magomedov’s self-confidence, Page said: “I do believe he is going to be stubborn enough to believe in himself.”

Page added: There’s certain patterns to what he does, there’s nothing to worry about. I get why other people are wowed by it and I understand his star quality and I appreciate that, but he’s never stood in front of something as confusing as me.”

Heavyweight contender Said Nurmagomedov, who faces Vinicius Oliveira, said: “I feel good, and I feel very relaxed.”

Oliveira said he was looking forward to the bout. “I don’t fear anybody, I’m very excited to be here, and be prepared because the king is coming.”

Russia’s Sergei Pavlovich, who will be in action against Jairzinho Rozenstruik, said: “He’s a very explosive guy, he’s very fast and he’s got a lot of experience, so you have to be ready for anything when it comes to him, and I am ready for all three rounds.”

Rozenstruik said he was confident. “I’m never nervous, I’m very relaxed. I’m bringing all my energy to the Octagon.”

 

MAIN CARD

Middleweight: Israel Adesanya vs. Nassourdine Imavov

Middleweight: Shara Magomedov vs. Michael Page

Heavyweight: Sergei Pavlovich vs. Jairzinho Rozenstruik  

Bantamweight: Said Nurmagomedov vs. Vinicius Oliveira

Lightweight: Fares Ziam vs. Mike Davis

 

PRELIMS

Featherweight: Muhammad Naimov vs. Kaan Ofli

Heavyweight: Shamil Gaziev vs. Thomas Petersen

Lightweight: Terrance McKinney vs. Damir Hadzovic

Women’s flyweight: Jasmine Jasudavicius vs. Mayra Bueno Silva

Featherweight: Bogdan Grad vs. Lucas Alexander

Heavyweight: Hamdy Adelwahab vs. Jamal Pogues

 


‘Pioneering change’ — new report highlights rise of women’s football in Saudi Arabia

Updated 24 January 2025
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‘Pioneering change’ — new report highlights rise of women’s football in Saudi Arabia

  • The analysis by NEOM Sport highlights the achievements and milestones of women’s football in the Kingdom to date and looks at its future

NEOM: A new report has been published that shines a light on the current landscape of women’s football in Saudi Arabia, looking at how it has grown so far and examining future opportunities.

The report by NEOM Sport, in partnership with the Asian Football Confederation, reveals how football has grown rapidly among women in the Kingdom, the Middle East and Asia. NEOM is a Presenting Partner of the inaugural AFC Women’s Champions League.

Women’s football in Saudi Arabia has become a catalyst for their increased participation in sport on a wider scale, helping to redefine sports culture and societal norms for the future as well as promoting gender equality and healthier lifestyles in alignment with the Saudi Vision 2030.

Young Saudi prospects from the Riyadh Girld Regional Training Center. (SAFF)

Aalia Abdulaziz Al-Rasheed, head of women’s football at the Saudi Arabian Football Federation said: “It has been a truly remarkable journey for Saudi women’s football over the last six years since the establishment of a dedicated women’s football department at the Saudi Arabian Football Federation.

“Driven by Saudi Vision 2030, we are hugely proud of the transformation across all areas of the game, including the establishment of four national teams, five competitions, 77,000 girls playing in our annual Schools League, six girls’ regional training centers and numerous coaching/refereeing development programs. It is truly something that needs to be seen to be believed.”

Jan Paterson, managing director of NEOM Sport, said: “This report, created in collaboration with our contributors, is our way of truly understanding the landscape — where we are, what obstacles lie ahead and how the future could look.

The Saudi Women's National Team during their participation in the WAFF Women's Championship last year. (SAFF)

“But it’s about more than just football. It’s about providing more opportunities for women and demonstrating the far-reaching impact that sport can have on individuals and communities. Alongside the AFC, we aim to play our part in unlocking the full potential of women’s sport by telling the story of how key stakeholders are redefining football and empowering women across the Kingdom.”

With contributions from multiple stakeholders from the women’s game — including SAFF, the Saudi Ministry of Sport, the Saudi Sports for All Federation, the AFC and more — the report examines the strides taken that led to a significant increase in participation in women’s football between 2022-23.

The Saudi Women's National Team during their participation in the WAFF Women's Championship last year. (SAFF)

Milestones over the past six years include the launch of the Saudi Women’s Premier League and women’s national team, the appointment of female leaders and achieving an official FIFA world ranking. Other contributing components include developmental pathways at grassroots level, the importance of leadership and coaching, investment in infrastructure and accessibility, and commercialization of the sport. These insights are among many highlighting how women’s football drives tangible strategic efforts that are propelling the sport and communities forward.

“Our mission is simple: We want to inspire and offer new opportunities for girls throughout the country to realize their dreams and showcase their talent and love for the beautiful game,” Al-Rasheed said.

The Saudi Women's National Team during a match against Malaysia in 2023. (SAFF)

“Our journey has inspired millions along the way, not just in Saudi Arabia but across different parts of the world. We are not doing this alone. We are open to the world and are already in 62 active partnerships with federations to co-develop the women’s game and realize its full potential. Today, 60 international players from 20 nationalities play in our leagues and have joined us on this journey.

“We are living in hugely exciting times and there is so much more to come from Saudi women’s football in the years to come.”


Genesis presents luxury cars to Al-Hilal football stars

Brazilian footballer neymar junior. supplied
Updated 23 January 2025
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Genesis presents luxury cars to Al-Hilal football stars

  • ‘Moving in Elegance’ campaign part of company’s official team sponsorship
  • Handover ceremony embodies partnership between Genesis and Saudi Pro League champions

RIYADH: Luxury vehicle brand Genesis Riyadh has presented its latest top-of-the-range cars to Saudi Pro League champions Al-Hilal.

The handover to the club’s personnel, including players and management, was part of the company’s larger agreement as Al-Hilal’s official car sponsor.

The slogan “Moving in Elegance” reflects the stature of the football club and cements the start of the car company’s activities in Riyadh for 2025. 

“This special ceremony between Genesis and Al-Hilal, the leading team in the region, reaffirms a long-term strategic partnership that we and the club cherish. The strong partnership is emphasized by the shared values that unite us, which are excellence and elegance,” said Ahmed Marshidi, chief operating officer at Genesis Al-Wallan.

Last season, Al-Hilal made football history by setting an unparalleled record of 34 consecutive victories across various competitions. This remarkable winning streak, which spanned September 2023 to April 2024, captured global headlines and cemented the club’s place in sporting history.