RIYADH: Saudi Minister for Sports Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal has participated in the opening ceremony of the Special Olympics World Games in Berlin on behalf of King Salman, Arab media reported on Saturday.
Saudi Minister Attends Opening Ceremony of Special Olympics Games
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier officially inaugurated the Special Olympics World Games, which started with a procession of the participating nations, including the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA).
Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed bin Talal, head of the Saudi Arabian Sports for All Federation, Prince Fahd bin Jalawi bin Abdulaziz bin Musaed, vice president of the Saudi Arabian Olympic and Paralympic Committee; Saudi envoy to Germany; Abdulaziz Baeshen, CEO and secretary-general of the committee; Adwa Al-Arifi, board member of the Olympic Committee; and Maha Al-Juffali, president of the Special Olympics Federation also attended the ceremony.
Riyadh is represented at the ceremony by 85 players participating in fifteen sports, including basketball, handball, bowling, judo, football, badminton, beach volleyball, volleyball, bocce, athletics, weightlifting, cycling, swimming and table tennis.
Prince Al-Faisal held a meeting with Andrew Parsons, president of the International Paralympic Committee and discussed avenues for cooperation, as well as several strategies to develop Paralympic sports activities in the Kingdom.
Prince Al-Faisal also engaged in talks with Ayman Abdel Wahab, head of Special Olympics Middle East and North Africa, about developments in Saudi Arabia and in the region.
The Minister expressed his deep gratitude to the leadership of Saudi Arabia for its unwavering support and help for the sports the country. He extended his good wishes to participating Saudi players at the event.
