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Royal Commission for Makkah Launches ‘Makkah Greets Us’

The event will host the Revelation and Route to Makkah Exhibitions - SPA
The event will host the Revelation and Route to Makkah Exhibitions - SPA
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Royal Commission for Makkah Launches ‘Makkah Greets Us’

The event will host the Revelation and Route to Makkah Exhibitions - SPA
The event will host the Revelation and Route to Makkah Exhibitions - SPA

In celebration of Eid Al-Fitr, the Royal Commission for Makkah City and Holy Sites launched the second annual “Makkah Greets Us” event in the Hira Cultural District.
The event, taking place until Monday, April 15 is expected to attract more than 15,000 visitors daily.
Visitors will enjoy more than 14 diverse programs tailored for all societal segments, including cultural, entertainment, and historic programs, SPA reported.
The event will host the Revelation and Route to Makkah Exhibitions, which display visual presentations of the descent of revelation and the Hajj routes over history.
Additionally, the event will feature folk art performances, falcon shows, and sound and light shows. It will host a dedicated area for the crafts market, children's activities, and various entertainment options.
Makkah Greets Us is held by the Royal Commission for Makkah City and Holy Sites, in cooperation with the Pilgrim Experience Program (PEP), the Holy Makkah Municipality, the Makkah Chamber, KIDANA development company, and AlBalad AlAmeen company.

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Pharrell Advocates for Reviving Arts Competitions for 2028 Olympics at Louis Vuitton Event 

Pharrell Williams upon arrival at the Louis Vuitton Foundation on the eve of Paris Olympics opening ceremony, at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, July 25, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP)
Pharrell Williams upon arrival at the Louis Vuitton Foundation on the eve of Paris Olympics opening ceremony, at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, July 25, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP)
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Pharrell Advocates for Reviving Arts Competitions for 2028 Olympics at Louis Vuitton Event 

Pharrell Williams upon arrival at the Louis Vuitton Foundation on the eve of Paris Olympics opening ceremony, at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, July 25, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP)
Pharrell Williams upon arrival at the Louis Vuitton Foundation on the eve of Paris Olympics opening ceremony, at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, July 25, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP)

If given the chance, Pharrell Williams would reintroduce arts competition into the Olympics, reviving a tradition that's been missing for nearly 80 years.

Williams is aiming to reinstate arts competitions back on the world's biggest sports stage, starting with raising awareness through his star-studded Louis Vuitton event Thursday in Paris. He passionately shared his goal to see the tradition revived by the Olympics in 2028 the night before the Games’ opening ceremony.

“We get to remind people that at one point, the Olympics actually had the arts as a section that ran all these competitions,” Williams before the event. “Sculpture, architecture, visual arts. The idea we get to put the arts back in. ... Why not take this moment to bring awareness?”

Art competitions first came into fruition at the 1912 Olympics in Stockholm with medals awarded in five categories: architecture, literature, music, painting and sculpture. However, the International Olympic Committee ended the competitions in the 1948 games. An attempt to bring it back was denied four years later.

Williams, the musician-turned-designer, hosted the ritzy A-list event at the Louis Vuitton Foundation building. Attendees included popular figures such as LeBron James, Steven Spielberg, Mick Jagger, Zendaya, Anna Wintour, Charlize Theron, Serena Williams, Rosalía, Snoop Dogg, Queen Latifah and Zac Efron.

Williams called the inside of the event like an “indoor carnival.” He curated a select group of world-renowned artists including KAWS, Daniel Arsham and Derek Fordjour to design interactive art installations.

Some of the sports represented at the event included archery, tennis, basketball and equestrianism along with carnival games. “The game will begin on the inside tonight,” he said.

Through donations, Williams said he wanted the event to support Olympic hopefuls as well as 36 athletes across 11 different countries who are competing on the Refugee Olympic Team this year.

“We get to raise money for the other athletes who don't have the means to get the gear or proper training equipment,” said Williams, who added that he spoke about creating music for the games with Thomas Bach, the president of the IOC.

The famed producer said he recorded a track called “Triumph is Cosmos.”

“This is like the victory lap around the solar system,” he said.