Saudi gains show the gulf in competition

From soccer to skiing, Arab nation flexes its financial muscles to secure top talent and big-ticket events

Saudi Arabia was named as the lone bidder for the 2034 World Cup on Tuesday, a major boost to the nation that boasts a string of recent, high-profile sports acquisitions.

The conservative Gulf monarchy is attempting to burnish its image and attract tourists and investment as it tries to diversify its economy away from oil.

Here are some of the moves that have turned Saudi Arabia into a major player in sports event hosting:

Winter sports

Saudi Arabia, a mostly desert country where summer temperatures touch 50 degrees Celsius (122 degrees Fahrenheit), raised eyebrows last October when it was chosen to host the 2029 Asian Winter Games.

The event, which has already earned the wrath of environmental campaigners, will be held at NEOM, an under-construction $500 billion megacity that is planned to include a year-round winter sports complex.

Five years later, the same year as the World Cup, Riyadh, the Saudi capital, will host the 2034 Asian Games, an Olympic-sized, multi-sports event. Hosting an Olympics is the kingdom's "ultimate goal", Sports Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal told AFP last August.

Formula One

In 2021, the glitzy world of F1 zoomed in to Jeddah, the Red Sea city that is a gateway for pilgrims to Mecca, with a night race flanking the coastline. It is one of four grands prix to be held in the wealthy Gulf region this year.

The 2022 edition was overshadowed by an attack by Houthi rebels from Yemen, Saudi's war-torn neighbor, that left oil facilities belching black smoke within sight of the circuit during practice sessions.

Soccer

Saudi Arabian clubs — backed by the Public Investment Fund, a sovereign wealth vehicle — have been on an extraordinary buying spree this year, starting with Al-Nassr's signing of Cristiano Ronaldo in January on a two-and-a-half-year deal said to be worth 400 million euros (about $423 million).

It opened the floodgates, with Ballon d'Or holder Karim Benzema joining Al-Ittihad, Neymar leaving Qatar-owned Paris Saint-German for Al-Hilal and a stream of other late-career stars making their way to the Saudi Pro League.

In October 2021, well before the Pro League's acquisitions, a Saudi-funded consortium completed its takeover of English Premier League club Newcastle United following a protracted wrangle with the game's regulators.

Fans of the long-time "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 has since enjoyed a lift in fortunes, qualifying for this season's Champions League.

Meanwhile, Saudi will host the Club World Cup at the end of December as well as the 2027 Asian Cup — now a probable dress rehearsal for the World Cup.

It is also bidding to hold the women's Asian Cup in 2026.

Golf

Saudi money has changed the face of professional golf after the upstart LIV Golf, following a legal battle with the established US PGA and European tours, announced a shock merger with its rivals in June.

The deal, which is due to be finalized at the end of December, follows a two-year civil war after LIV poached players for huge sums, prompting the US and European circuits to rule them ineligible for certain tournaments including, in the case of Europe, the Ryder Cup.

Former world No 1 Dustin Johnson has been one of the prime beneficiaries, scooping $35 million in prize money in the inaugural season — on top of a reported $150 million just for agreeing to play.

Boxing

When world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury won a split-decision in a non-title bout with MMA star Francis Ngannou on Saturday, it was just the latest high-profile fight to be held in the kingdom.

Anthony Joshua, another British heavyweight, has fought twice in Saudi, 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.

Tennis

This year's Next Gen ATP Finals, featuring the hottest young men's players, will be played in Jeddah in December. Saudi was also reported to be the front-runner to host this year's WTA Finals before Cancun in Mexico was named the winner.

Cricket

Last year Saudi Aramco, the world's biggest oil exporter and one of its richest companies, embarked on a sponsorship of major events organized 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.

Horse racing

Saudi Arabia has galloped to the fore in horse racing with the $20 million Saudi Cup, the world's richest race. The 2021 and 2022 editions were won by Saudiowned horses, including 66-1 Emblem Road's victory last year. Japanese long-shot Panthalassa won this year's race in February.

AFP