Saudi Arabia Prepares To Host The 2025 Asian Indoor And Martial Arts Games In Riyadh

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has been officially designated to host the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games in Riyadh in 2025. This marks the first time in history that Saudi Arabia will host this event. The announcement was made during the 44th Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) General Assembly held in India.

During the assembly, several key appointments were confirmed. Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki bin Faisal was reappointed as Vice President of the OCA for the Asian Games. Additionally, Prince Fahd bin Jalawi was elected as Chair of the Education Committee for a second term. Al-Batool Baroom, CEO of the Saudi Olympic Academy, was named vice chair of the Sport and Peace Committee.

Prince Fahd bin Jalawi received the Games flag on behalf of Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki from OCA President Raja Randhir Singh and a representative from Thailand. This symbolic gesture signifies Saudi Arabia's readiness to host the event.

The General Assembly also reviewed reports on upcoming events. These included the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games in Riyadh (2025), the 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin, China (February 2025), and the 2025 Asian Youth Games in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Additionally, they discussed plans for the 20th Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, scheduled for 2026.

Raja Randhir Singh was elected as OCA President for a four-year term. He is now the first official Indian president of the council after serving as acting president since 2021. The executive board members, including vice presidents and other board members, were also elected during this assembly.

The assembly saw participation from various dignitaries including SOPC Vice President Prince Fahd bin Jalawi bin Musaed and SOPC Secretary-General and CEO Abdulaziz bin Ahmed Baeshen. Other princes, ministers, and heads of national Olympic committees from across Asia were also present.

This significant event underscores Saudi Arabia's growing influence in international sports. Hosting such a prestigious event will likely enhance its reputation on a global scale.

With inputs from SPA