Riyadh, October 3, 2024 — Under the esteemed patronage of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the third edition of the Saudi Games will officially commence in Riyadh on Thursday, running from October 3 to 17. The event will feature athletes competing in 52 individual and team sports, including 7 Paralympic sports, 10 demonstration sports, and 15 youth sports, marking the largest national sporting event in Saudi Arabia's history.
On this notable occasion, Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki bin Faisal, Minister of Sport, President of the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee (SOPC), and Chairman of the Supreme Organizing Committee for the Saudi Games, expressed his heartfelt gratitude to King Salman for his unwavering support. He emphasized that this royal sponsorship is a clear demonstration of the leadership’s strong commitment to advancing the sports sector in the Kingdom. The support aims to nurture athletes as future leaders who will represent Saudi Arabia on the global stage.
In a press statement, Prince Abdulaziz highlighted the profound impact of the continued encouragement from both the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. He stated that the Saudi sports sector is experiencing unprecedented growth, driven by the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030, which has positioned the Kingdom as a prominent hub for international sporting events. Prince Abdulaziz further noted that hosting the Saudi Games for the third consecutive year enhances Saudi Arabia's standing both locally and globally, as the country works to elevate the quality of its sports competitions. These efforts are part of a larger initiative to develop a promising generation of athletes who will represent the Kingdom in regional and international arenas.
The Saudi Games offer a total prize pool exceeding SAR200 million, with gold medalists awarded SAR1 million, silver medalists SAR300,000, and bronze medalists SAR100,000. In the youth category, the gold medalists will receive SAR100,000, silver medalists SAR50,000, and bronze medalists SAR25,000, ensuring that both established and emerging athletes are recognized for their achievements.
With the Kingdom's continued investment in the sports sector, the Saudi Games aim to inspire and empower athletes while positioning Saudi Arabia as a leading nation in the international sports community.