Buraydah to Participate in UNESCO’s 2024 Creative Cities of Gastronomy Conference in Thailand

The flag of Saudi Arabia (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The flag of Saudi Arabia (Asharq Al-Awsat)
TT

Buraydah to Participate in UNESCO’s 2024 Creative Cities of Gastronomy Conference in Thailand

The flag of Saudi Arabia (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The flag of Saudi Arabia (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Buraydah will join 70 other creative cities worldwide at the UNESCO Creative Cities of Gastronomy Annual Conference 2024, held in Thailand from May 9th to 12th. Through its participation, Buraydah aims to strengthen its global presence and programs as a creative city within UNESCO's Creative Cities Network.

Secretary General of Qassim Chamber Mohammad Al-Hanaya stated that Buraydah's participation in the conference is part of the file plan of Buraydah Creative City, supported and organized by the chamber.

The Qassim Chamber, in collaboration with the Culinary Arts Commission, is responsible for managing and implementing the technical aspects of this file. Buraydah Creative City is a member of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network in gastronomy, SPA reporte.
Al-Hanaya highlighted the commitment of the Saudi leadership to ensuring the Kingdom's active and influential presence in international events across various fields, aligning with Saudi Vision 2030. Executive Liaison Officer for Buraydah Creative City at UNESCO Sulaiman Al-Geffari stated that the city's participation in the conference in Phuket, Thailand, aims to achieve the objectives of joining the Creative Cities Network.

Buraydah will be among more than 70 creative cities in the field of gastronomy from different countries at the conference, with the presence of the Culinary Arts Commission of the Ministry of Culture, Al-Geffari added.
The city seeks to enhance cooperation among member cities, exchange experiences and initiatives, showcase best practices, and explore avenues for developing enhanced elements of creativity and innovation for sustainable urban development, Al-Geffari stated.

Furthermore, Buraydah aims to foster partnerships between gastronomy cities within UNESCO's Creative Cities Network during the conference.

In 2021, Buraydah became a member of UNESCO's Creative Cities Network in the field of gastronomy, making it the first Gulf city and the second Arab city to join the network.



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)
TT

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.