On Saturday evening, prominent figures from Saudi sports attended the launch of the 2023 Berlin Special Olympics in a show of support for the kingdom’s 130-strong delegation.

The largest Special Olympics contingent in Saudi Arabia since the 1995 Games in New Haven, Connecticut, consists of 85 male and female athletes who will participate in 15 sports.

The opening ceremony in the German capital was attended by Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal, Saudi Minister of Sports and President of the Federation of Arab National Olympic Committees, who attended on behalf of King Salman.

Prince Fahd bin Jalawi bin Abdulaziz bin Musaed, vice-president of the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committees, and Prince Khalid bin Al-Waleed bin Talal, president of the Saudi Sports for All Federation, also showed their support at the city’s Olympic stadium.

Prince Khaled spoke to Arab News exclusively about the Special Olympics and its importance to the Saudi sports scene.

What is the secret of the importance of the Special Olympics for Saudi sports?

I would like, first and foremost, to talk about the pride I feel personally, and for the Saudi Sports for All Federation as a whole, in joining the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee and the Ministry of Sports for the Berlin Games 2023. We are eager to support our athletes here during the Special Olympics.

Special Olympics draws attention to how physical activity can change lives for the better; This reflects our value system. Community-focused, SFA seeks to inspire people of all ages and abilities to participate in physical activity that transforms lives.

With the Kingdom making great strides over the years to transform its rapidly growing society, Saudi Arabia’s participation in the Special Olympics is timely and significant and represents where and who we are as a nation.

Focusing on integrating all abilities is extremely important to us, as we are always working to raise awareness and support more people from all walks of life to enjoy their favorite sports and physical activities.

What role does the Saudi Sports for All Federation play in elite sporting events, such as the Special Olympics?

As the main body responsible for the development of community sports, the SFA is mandated to work “together for a healthy active community”, or to raise participation numbers across the country. The focus here is on the words “together” and “community”.

In order to truly engage and meet the needs of all people in Saudi Arabia, we must ensure that the needs of all members of society are recognized and met.

We hope that seeing our athletes compete globally will inspire more people across the country to try new activities.

The more we participate, the more likely our athletes will be directed to elite participation. We want every school, every club, everywhere to have more and more physical activities, and therefore more future Olympians and elite athletes.

Why did you and the SFA delegation decide to go to Berlin for the Games?

With the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia joining its largest delegation to the Special Olympics in the history of its participation, the Saudi Sports for All Federation sent representatives to Berlin to attend the Games in support of the Kingdom’s efforts on the global sports scene.

Given our experience in hosting international tournaments, launching nationwide and regional events, and promoting diversity and inclusion, we thought we could be a knowledgeable and valuable partner for the Saudi delegation.

We also wanted to highlight the progress the Kingdom has made over the past few years to become the leading sports destination in the region.

How does the current mass participation landscape in Saudi Arabia create more opportunities for sports as a business?

Saudi Arabia has become what we all worked to achieve – a leading global sports center. You will not believe how exciting it is on the ground in the activities of the Saudi Sports for All Federation; energy in the air. People of all ages and abilities participate and inspire. Marathon is a perfect example of this.

If we go back and talk about actual metrics, in 2021 alone, we launched and organized more than 27 initiatives and activities, including community programs, National Day posts, and sports tournaments. It was attended by more than 4 million participants.

We also launched the first Global Goals World Cup in Saudi Arabia. A football tournament dedicated to women and girls, the Global Goals World Cup was created to empower female football fans and players across the Kingdom, providing them with a platform to immerse themselves in their passion for the sport while advocating for the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. These events talk about the growth of sports in Saudi Arabia and how accessible physical activities have become.

According to the latest General Authority for Statistics home exercise survey, 38.3% of females in the Kingdom now participate in various forms of weekly exercise.

There are 700 female-only gyms and 500 community sports groups. This ensures inclusivity in sports and physical activities across the Kingdom, and ensures that the sports business continues to thrive, from the supply chain to events and beyond.