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RIYADH: From global finance to Saudi stadiums, American investor Ben Harburg has taken an unusual path into the Kingdom’s sporting landscape. Known for managing billions of dollars through international investment funds, he recently made headlines by fully acquiring Al-Kholood Club, a team newly promoted to the Saudi Pro League.

The move reflects the growing appeal of Saudi football to international investors and aligns with Vision 2030’s ambition to connect sport with economic development and global visibility.

Harburg’s career is rooted in high finance. As a founding partner of MSA Capital, he has overseen assets exceeding $2 billion, investing in global giants such as Uber, Airbnb, and Palantir. Yet his decision to step into Saudi football reveals a different kind of calculation.

“I believe the Saudi Pro League is operating in a high-growth market, while competition in Europe is either weakening or flatlining,” he said. To him, this is not a short-term gamble but a long-term commitment to a sector on the rise.

What sets Harburg apart from the stereotype of foreign investors is his philosophy. Rather than chasing quick returns through marquee signings, he speaks of building a foundation of young Saudi players and world-class facilities.

“We’ve got to produce young Saudi players that can be sold to clubs like Al-Ittihad and Al-Ettifaq,” he explained. “And we’ve got to attract players who don’t come to us simply because we pay the highest salaries, but because they find a high level of professionalism, training equipment, and infrastructure.” His approach resonates with the Kingdom’s broader push to make clubs more sustainable, competitive, and rooted in local talent.

Harburg also distinguishes himself with his presence among fans.

“Because of the way you’re treating your supporters and engaging with them, I’ve become one of your fans,” he said.

It is an attitude that extends beyond financial ownership, reflecting a desire to shape a deeper connection between the club and its community. In doing so, he adds cultural and social value to an investment that is often judged solely by numbers.

The arrival of an investor like Ben Harburg in the Saudi Pro League symbolizes more than the globalization of the game; it marks a shift in the way foreign capital interacts with local sport.

From Wall Street to Saudi Arabia, he embodies a new model of investment — one that sees people, infrastructure, and supporters as the true pillars of the future of football in the Kingdom.

TOKYO: Former Olympic champion Daniel Stahl of Sweden won the last gold medal of the 2025 World Athletics Championships on Sunday with the penultimate throw of a men’s discus final delayed for more than two hours by rain.

World record holder Mykolas Alekna managed the only legal throw before the heavens opened at the National Stadium and the athletes were removed from the arena for safety reasons.

They returned after all the other events and the official closing ceremony had been completed, an army of volunteers wiping down the throwing circle with towels between attempts as the rain persisted.

“I have trained for many years in the rain and know that it usually rains in Tokyo in September-October,” Stahl told Swedish broadcaster SVT Sport.

“It’s important to keep the focus because there can be delays and it can take a few hours.”

Alekna lays down marker

Lithuanian Alekna laid down a marker with a throw of 67.84m on his second attempt which led the final until Stahl took to the circle for his last shot at the title.

Revving up the remaining crowd at the arena where he won the Olympic title in 2021, the 33-year-old sent the disc soaring in to the sky and past the 70-meter line for his season’s best throw of 70.47m and a third world title.

“Mentally, I was ready for the last throw. I prepared myself for it,” Stahl said.

“This is my favorite arena of all time. It was special in 2021, and it has been special again tonight.”

Alekna, 22, fouled his last attempt and finished second to add to his bronze at the last world championships and silver in 2022 but remained without a title to match the two his father Virgilijus won in discus in 2003 and 2005.

“Having the men’s discus throw as the last event of the championships, I don’t think it ever happened before,” Alekna said.

“At first, after the competition finished, I was a little disappointed. But I know I did everything I could to fight for the gold.”

Alex Rose took bronze with a throw of 66.96m on his fifth attempt to knock Australia’s Matt Denny out of third place and give Samoa a first world championship medal.

“This is one of the greatest moments of my entire life and it’s been 20 years in the making,” Rose said.

“To come back here and do what I just did, there is no feeling like it. The young Pacific Island athletes never give up. I work a full-time job and took time off to from my company to compete here.”