Saudi Gazette report

RIYADH — Minister of Sports Prince Abdulaziz Bin Turki Al-Faisal, who is also the chairman of the Saudi Arabian Olympic Committee (SAOC), said that Saudi women make up 30 percent of members on the boards of directors of sports federations.

Attending the periodic government communication briefing here on Sunday, he said that sports sector’s contribution to the GDP grew from $640 million to $1.7 billion, an increase of 170 percent in two years.

The minister pointed out to the fact that sports practitioners in the Kingdom increased from 13% to 19%. “Sports groups increased to reach 450, out of that 200 of the groups are women’s groups.”

“The establishment of private sports investment companies approved for the first time for 13 sports clubs and federations,” he said.

Speaking on international events hosted by the Kingdom, he said that the Formula1 race will take place for the first time in Saudi Arabia on December and the 2023 world Martial Arts Games will be hosted by Saudi Arabia.