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Olympic Games: organizing the Olympics, Saudi Arabia's "ultimate goal"

2022-08-21T13:12:55.870Z


Saudi Arabia sees hosting the Olympics as an 'ultimate goal' amid growing sporting events... Saudi Arabia sees hosting the Olympics as an ' ultimate goal ' amid growing sporting events in the country, its sports minister told AFP, dismissing criticism of human rights abuses who aim at the kingdom. The investment in sport is part of a multi-pronged strategy approved six years ago to diversify the economy of this heavily oil-dependent country, under the leadership of Crown Prince Mohammed


Saudi Arabia sees hosting the Olympics as an '

ultimate goal

' amid growing sporting events in the country, its sports minister told AFP, dismissing criticism of human rights abuses who aim at the kingdom.

The investment in sport is part of a multi-pronged strategy approved six years ago to diversify the economy of this heavily oil-dependent country, under the leadership of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, 36.

Sports Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal gave an interview to AFP ahead of Saturday night's heavyweight boxing fight in Jeddah (west), which ended with the victory on points 'Ukrainian Oleksandr Usyk over Britain's Anthony Joshua.

It is the latest high-profile but controversial event to be held in Saudi Arabia, like Formula 1 and the dissident Saudi-funded LIV golf circuit.

In 2034, the capital Riyadh will also host the Asian Games, a high-profile multi-sport event that could pave the way for a bid for the Summer Olympics, according to Prince Abdulaziz.

Our main focus now is the (Asian Games) 2034

,” which will take place two years after the 2032 Summer Olympics in Brisbane, Australia, he said.

We are open to discussing this with the IOC (International Olympic Committee) in the future.

I think Saudi Arabia has shown that it can host such events.

Without a doubt, the Olympics would be an ultimate goal for us

,” he stressed.

The fight between Usyk and Joshua in Jeddah on the Red Sea came a day after the UN was '

appalled

' by the sentencing of a Saudi student to 34 years in prison for tweets critical of the government.

F1, golf, football...

Saudi Arabia is regularly criticized for its human rights violations such as the relentless suppression of dissenting voices, and singled out for the 2018 assassination of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

Activists often accuse Saudi leaders of using high-profile sporting events to distract from human rights abuses, a practice dubbed "

sports laundering

".

But for Prince Abdulaziz, these criticisms are unfounded: “

We are progressing, we are moving towards a better society, towards a better quality of life, a better country for the future

,” he said.

And the facts show that hosting these events benefits our people and benefits these changes that are happening

” in Saudi society, he added.

Saudi Arabia joined F1 last year by hosting a Grand Prix on its soil, and the Saudi Public Investment Fund is funding LIV Golf, a new breakaway series from the North American PGA Tour that has continued to grow. lure players off the circuit with multi-million dollar contracts.

In response to LIV Golf, the PGA imposed bans on defecting players.

This week, Tiger Woods and leading PGA players came together to discuss the dispute between the PGA and LIV Golf.

Asked if he expected the strong reactions against LIV Golf, Prince Abdulaziz replied: “

Not really, honestly.

I think if it benefits the sport, then why not, whoever it's done by

,” he said.

"

If it benefits sports people, if it benefits sport, if it brings more attention to sport, more people who want to participate in sport, it will advance sport for everyone

," the prince said.

Saudi Arabia has also applied for the organization of the Asian Cup in football in 2027 and that of the women's version in 2026, as well as the organization of the Asian Winter Games in 2029. at NEOM, a futuristic megacity project on the Red Sea.

Source: lefigaro

All sports articles on 2022-08-21

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