Saudi Games

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” – 2 Timothy 4:7 ESV 

Viewpoint: Saudi held its first annual Saudi Games. The games took place from October 28^th – November 7^th in Riyadh. The Saudi Games competitions were in 22 sports facilities in Riyadh, with more than 6000 male and female athletes competing in 45 sports events, including five events dedicated to the Paralympic Games, under which 180 sports competitions fall. Around 2000 technical and administrative supervisors were involved in organizing the event. The participating athletes were motivated to provide their highest performance by allocating the highest prizes in the history of the Gulf region, with a total of more than SR200 million. The gold medal winner in any game got SR1 million, the silver medalist received SR300,000, and the bronze winner got SR100,000. The goal of the 2022 Saudi Games is to increase the popularity of various sports and to achieve an ideal sports environment among athletes in the Kingdom. It also seeks to raise the level of Saudi Arabia’s capabilities to organize major sporting events to achieve the targets of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030. 

It is hopeful to see the government encouraging and supporting athletes, men and women alike, giving them equal opportunity to compete. What Saudi Arabia needs is its eyes on the real prize Jesus Christ.  

Prayer points: Pray that Saudis will have opportunities to hear about Jesus and accept Him as Lord and Savior. Pray that they, like Paul, will “fight the good fight, finish the race, and keep the faith.”