RIYADH: Saudi Arabia staged its first internationally sanctioned athletics competition this weekend with the conclusion of the inaugural Saudi Grand Athletics Prix 2026 in Riyadh, a significant step in the Kingdom’s push to become a global sports destination.
The two-day event, held at the track of Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, was organized by the Saudi Athletics Federation under the World Athletics Continental Tour Bronze category.
There were 210 male and female athletes from 40 countries taking part, including Olympic and world-class competitors appearing in Saudi Arabia for the first time.
The closing day was attended by Saudi Athletics Federation Vice President Badr Al-Youbi, federation CEO Majed Basunbul, and Fatimah Al-Moayyed.
Basunbul described the competition as a milestone in the federation’s long-term strategy to expand the Kingdom’s role in international athletics.
“This is the first event of its kind in Saudi Arabia under the Saudi Athletics Federation, and it represents an important step in our long-term strategy,” Basunbul told Arab News.
He said the federation had spent the past two years building toward hosting larger international competitions, beginning with the Arab Championship and the Asian U18 Championship before launching its first senior-level grand prix event.
Basunbul said the federation’s strategy focused on increasing athletics participation in Saudi Arabia, maximizing the use of sports infrastructure and giving Saudi athletes the opportunity to compete against elite international rivals on home soil.
“Our strategic vision is to host more international athletics events and eventually establish Saudi Arabia as a global destination for athletics,” he said.
“This grand prix in 2026 is only the first step. Our long-term plan over the next eight years is very ambitious, and we hope that one day Saudi Arabia could even host the World Athletics Championships.”
The final day featured track and field events with athletes from South Africa, Qatar, Turkiye, the Netherlands, Egypt, the United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia claiming podium finishes.
Qatar’s Noufal Mohammad won the men’s long jump with a leap of 7.63 meters, while South Africa’s Adrian Swart secured victories in the men’s 300m hurdles and 150m sprint.
Turkiye’s Ertan Ozkan won the men’s 60m sprint in 6.57 seconds, with Saudi runner Ahmed Almajrashi finishing third.
South Africa’s Werner Gouws claimed the men’s 600m title, while Saudi athletes Amjad Alfaraj and Ali Alsifiani finished second and third respectively.
Egypt’s Maged Albadri won the men’s javelin competition with a throw of 58.49m.
In the women’s events, Turkiye’s Elif Polat won the 300m race, while Dutch athlete Priscilla Oorschot took victory in the women’s 600m.
South Africa’s Christopher Swart closed the meeting by winning the men’s 1,000m ahead of Saudi runners Bader Alghamdi and Amin Abdallah.
The event underscores Saudi Arabia’s broader ambitions under Vision 2030 to expand its international sports portfolio and position the Kingdom as a site for global sporting competitions.
