Over the course of six weeks, more than 500 competitors from 25 countries competed at the NEOM Beach Games.
Kitesurfing, triathlon, basketball, beach soccer, and mountain biking were among the sports available.
December 17, 2022, NEOM, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia – After hosting over 500 athletes from 25 countries, NEOM, the worldwide development taking shape in northwest Saudi Arabia, has successfully concluded the NEOM Beach Games 2022. NEOM experienced intense competition that gained extensive international media coverage between October 19 and December 9.
On October 19, a series of dynamic sporting activities began with freestyle kitesurfing, followed by an Olympic-level championship of short-course triathlon. Other competitions included 3×3 basketball and 5×5 beach soccer, in which world champions Brazil won both the men’s and women’s titles. The NEOM Beach Games finished on December 9 with a desert mountain bike race in which 220 male and female athletes from across the world competed in four stages, cycling 80-120 kilometers per day.
Each sports federation participating in the NEOM Beach Games had its own worldwide live feed to broadcast the event to ensure maximum global exposure. The BBC transmitted the Super League Triathlon NEOM event, while Sports TV, Brazil’s largest sports station, carried the NEOM Beach Soccer Cup to a potential audience of over 200 million people.
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 an 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 sport events take place in NEOM in the future.’’
To demonstrate NEOM’s potential to organize big global sporting events, three of the five rights holders involved in the NEOM Beach Games chose to stage the final events of their respective calendar seasons in the region.
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.”
Beach Soccer Worldwide, which has a global audience of over 250 million people in 180 countries, was one of the federations to conclude its season in Saudi Arabia, offering 24 thrilling games over four days.
