Over 500 competitors from 25 nations competed over a six-week period at the NEOM Beach Games in sports like kitesurfing, mountain biking, basketball, beach soccer, and triathlon.
NEOM, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, December 17, 2022
After hosting more than 500 athletes from 25 nations, the NEOM Beach Games 2022 has been successfully concluded by NEOM, the international project that is taking shape in northwest Saudi Arabia. The spectacular competitions that took place in NEOM between October 19 and December 9 were covered extensively by worldwide media.
The first of the sequence of exciting sporting occasions was freestyle kitesurfing on October 19. Short-course triathlon, at the Olympic level, was the next event. Other competitions included 3×3 basketball and 5×5 beach soccer, where Brazil, the defending winners, won both the men’s and women’s championship trophies.
220 athletes from all around the world competed in the four-stage desert mountain bike race that wrapped off the NEOM Beach Games on December 9; each competitor cycled 80–120 kilometers per day.
Each sports federation competing at the NEOM Beach Games had its own worldwide live feed to broadcast the activity in order to ensure maximum global exposure. While Sports TV, the largest sports station in Brazil, broadcast the NEOM Beach Soccer Cup to a potential audience of over 200 million, BBC aired the Super League Triathlon NEOM event.
Jan Paterson, Managing Director of Sport at NEOM, said: “NEOM Beach Games has been a milestone for NEOM and its success will help to further position the region as a natural hub for sport. Additionally, the Games saw Saudi athletes compete alongside fellow participants from 25 countries in triathlon, 3×3 basketball, beach soccer and mountain biking , reflecting NEOM’s role in providing opportunity for local talent to compete on the global stage.”
“We believe the ongoing collaboration between NEOM, the national federations, and the rights holders of each sport will positively impact the national sporting ecosystem and we look forward to seeing more dynamic sports events take place in NEOM in the future.’’
Three of the five rights holders who participated in the NEOM Beach Games selected the last events of their respective calendar seasons to be held in the region in order to highlight NEOM’s capacity as a host for significant international sporting events.
Joan Cusco, Beach Soccer Worldwide President, said: ”I believe we could host the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup here. Everything is set up, everything is ready, and all the services are excellent. Everyone wants to help here and the people are so friendly, from the highest management to the people who are working on the doors and the ball boys and girls, and fans. It has been an amazing experience coming to NEOM.”
One of the federations to finish its season in Saudi Arabia was the well-known Beach Soccer Worldwide, which broadcast 24 thrilling matches over the course of four days to an audience of over 250 million people in 180 different countries.
