Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, April 26, 2022: The President of the Saudi Arabian Olympic & Paralympic Committee (SOPC), HRH Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Faisal, held a signing ceremony to host the 2023 World Combat Games with the President of the Global Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF) and SportAccord, Ivo Ferriani.
HH Prince Fahd bin Jalawi, SOPC Vice President, and Stephan Fox, GAISF Multi-Sport Games Chairman and GAISF Vice President, also attended the signing at Prince Faisal bin Fahd Olympic Complex in Riyadh.
HRH Prince Abdulaziz expressed his thanks to the Kingdom’s government for its continued trust and support which is helping the sports field flourish and host of many major international sporting events.
“The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is honoured to have been presented with the opportunity of hosting the world’s best athletes in Riyadh,” he said.
“I want to express our gratitude to GAISF for their trust in selecting us to host the World Combat Games 2023, which celebrates unity and champions diversity.”
According to the agreement, the event will run for nine days and include 15 recognised martial arts sports: Aikido, Judo, Jujitsu, Karate, Kendo, Boxing, Kick Boxing, Muay Thai, Sambo, Savate, Sumo, Taekwondo, Wrestling, Wushu and Fencing.
The event will combine sports and culture by featuring the first World Martial Arts Gala to honour the legends of martial arts and combat sports.
Ferriani added: “GAISF is looking forward to this incredible celebration of combat sports and martial arts in the beautiful city of Riyadh. There is no better host for this major multi-sport games, bringing together the best athletes and their respective International Federations in a festival celebratory atmosphere.”
Fox, who is also a former martial arts world champion, said: “I would like to express our gratitude to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, His Royal Highness Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Faisal Al Saud and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud for their commitment to hosting the World Combat Games 2023, an event very much in line with the Kingdom’s ambitious Saudi Vision 2030. We have no doubt that this event will be a huge success.”
