Riyadh’s 2030 Asian Games bid was further boosted today following Saudi Arabia’s election to represent Asia on the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Foundation Board.
Represented by Dr Mohammed Saleh Al-Konbaz, President of the Saudi Arabian Anti-Doping Committee, Saudi Arabia is one of only four WADA Foundation Board Members from Asia – signally the nation’s leadership position on anti-doping in the region.
The 38-member Foundation Board is WADA's highest decision-making body comprising equally of representatives from the Olympic Movement and world governments with members appointed by their respective constituency groups.
The election follows the recent qualification of 30 new Saudi female doping control officers and is further evidence of Riyadh’s vision for a clean, equitable and transparent 2030 Asian Games where WADA rules and Anti-Doping Code, as well as the Olympic Council of Asia’s (OCA) anti-doping rules, will be rigorously implemented.
The announcement comes after the OCA Evaluation Committee’s successful visit to Riyadh where the city’s vision for a transformative, vibrant, modern, sustainable and world-class 2030 Asian Games was showcased. During the visit, Riyadh 2030’s Bid Committee outlined its mission to transform the future of Asian sport and inspire a new generation of athletes and fans across the region and beyond.
Riyadh 2030 expressed further to the Evaluation Committee that Saudi Arabia’s first-ever Asian Games is the nation’s number one sporting priority and offers total commercial certainty in a new market for the OCA – with millions of passionate local fans eager to buy tickets, watch on TV and rush to fill sold-out stadia in a festival of sport that will unite a continent.
Through a series of site visits and presentations, Riyadh’s Games Plan – developed with the principle of ‘excellence, not extravagance’ – was brought to life. The bid illustrated its compact and well-connected hosting concept would use mainly existing venues, with no new infrastructure investment just for the Games, and that any new developments are already planned and part of the city’s ongoing transformation in line with the national Vision 2030 strategy.
HRH Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Alfaisal, President of Riyadh 2030 Bid Committee and President of the Saudi Arabian Olympic Committee, said:
"Representing Asia on the WADA Foundation Board is a great honour and is further evidence of Saudi Arabia’s commitment to protecting the integrity of sport. We understand the importance of upholding WADA’s World Anti-Doping Code and we’re proud partners of WADA and the OCA and their respective anti-doping measures.
"Riyadh 2030 will carry out doping control to the highest international standards and is fully committed to embracing and driving forward all efforts to maintain a clean sports environment, safe and free of doping."
Dr Mohammed Saleh Al-Konbaz, President of the Saudi Arabian anti-Doping committee, said:
"Our election to WADA’s Foundation Board reflects Saudi Arabia’s commitment to working as a constructive partner of global organisations to promote and protect a clean sporting world.
"We promise to uphold the highest principles of fair sport, so we’re also delighted to announce today the appointment of 30 new female doping control officers. Saudi Arabia will continue to make major investments like this – in its people, programmes and policies – so all Saudi athletes, both women and men, can compete in a safe and fair environment."
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