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King Salman Academy for Arabic Language Launches World Arabic Language Day in New York

The event is held under the theme, "Arabic Language and Artificial Intelligence: Enhancing Innovation While Preserving Cultural Heritage." SPA
The event is held under the theme, "Arabic Language and Artificial Intelligence: Enhancing Innovation While Preserving Cultural Heritage." SPA
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King Salman Academy for Arabic Language Launches World Arabic Language Day in New York

The event is held under the theme, "Arabic Language and Artificial Intelligence: Enhancing Innovation While Preserving Cultural Heritage." SPA
The event is held under the theme, "Arabic Language and Artificial Intelligence: Enhancing Innovation While Preserving Cultural Heritage." SPA

Under the patronage of Minister of Culture and King Salman Global Academy for the Arabic Language chairman of the board of trustees Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan, the academy inaugurated the World Arabic Language Day 2024 celebration program and its accompanying exhibition at the United Nations headquarters in New York City.
Organized in cooperation with the Kingdom's permanent mission to the United Nations, the event is held under the theme, "Arabic Language and Artificial Intelligence: Enhancing Innovation While Preserving Cultural Heritage."
Opening the ceremony with a keynote speech, the academy’s secretary-general, Dr. Abdullah bin Saleh Al-Washmi, emphasized the Kingdom's pivotal role in supporting the Arabic language globally, rooted in the Saudi Vision 2030 and as the birthplace of the Arabic language and the Holy Quran, and preserving and promoting Arabic as an integral part of cultural identity.
He added that this year’s theme reflects a growing global awareness of the importance of the Arabic language.
Al-Washmi noted the academy’s role as a leading institution working to enhance the status of the Arabic language and to develop tools for its teaching and dissemination locally and internationally, adding that the institution operates in over 60 countries, demonstrating its global impact.
He also underscored the historical significance of the Arabic language in the United Nations, which was recognized as one of its six official languages through a landmark resolution by the General Assembly in 1973.
The event was attended by diplomatic and international figures, including the undersecretary-general for General Assembly and conference management, the coordinator for multilingualism at the United Nations, the deputy chief of staff to the president of the General Assembly, Saudi Arabia’s ambassador and permanent representative to the United Nations, and the deputy permanent observer of the Arab League to the United Nations.
This marks the fourth consecutive year of celebrating World Arabic Language Day, highlighting the Kingdom's commitment to strengthening Arabic's presence in international organizations. The event is part of a broader series of initiatives by the academy to promote the cultural and scientific richness of the Arabic language, ensuring its continued relevance and global recognition.

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Sumo to Stage Event in Paris as Part of Global Push

People gather at the entrance of Ryogoku Kokugikan for the arrival of sumo wrestlers during the Grand Sumo Tournament in Tokyo on January 19, 2025. (AFP)
People gather at the entrance of Ryogoku Kokugikan for the arrival of sumo wrestlers during the Grand Sumo Tournament in Tokyo on January 19, 2025. (AFP)
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Sumo to Stage Event in Paris as Part of Global Push

People gather at the entrance of Ryogoku Kokugikan for the arrival of sumo wrestlers during the Grand Sumo Tournament in Tokyo on January 19, 2025. (AFP)
People gather at the entrance of Ryogoku Kokugikan for the arrival of sumo wrestlers during the Grand Sumo Tournament in Tokyo on January 19, 2025. (AFP)

Sumo will stage a tournament in Paris for the first time in over three decades next year in a push to expand the ancient sport beyond Japan, organizers said Sunday.

Accor Arena, which hosted basketball and gymnastics events at last year's Paris Olympics, will stage a two-day competition featuring top wrestlers in the French capital in June 2026.

Japan Sumo Association (JSA) officials announced last month that they will also stage a tournament later this year at London's Royal Albert Hall -- the first overseas sumo competition in 20 years.

"It's important for us to show our sport to the world," JSA chairman Hakkaku told reporters at Tokyo's Kokugikan, where the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament is currently taking place.

"And for the wrestlers, they're the best in the world, they should be proud of that and see that they're admired all over the world."

Paris hosted sumo tournaments in 1986 and 1995 at the invitation of former French president Jacques Chirac, who was known to be a huge fan of the centuries-old sport.

Hakkaku, who competed at the 1986 Paris event, said he was "grateful for the long and deep relations between sumo and France".

"We feel renewed joy and great responsibility as we prepare for our third performance in Paris in 2026," he said.

"We are committed to fully sharing the charm of sumo... with the French people."

French organizers said they would pull out all the stops to recreate the atmosphere of a sumo tournament in Japan.

David Rothschild, promoter and executive producer for events organizers AEG, said the Paris tournament would be part of a "festival" celebrating Japanese culture.

"When you say the word sumo, everyone in France knows it represents traditional Japanese culture," he said.

"There was a time when it was shown on TV and there are people in France who are very knowledgeable about it," Rothschild added.

"But time flies and we want to introduce the beauty of sumo to a new generation."

Sumo has staged events in several countries around the world, including the Soviet Union, Mexico and the United States.

The last overseas tournament organized by the JSA was in Las Vegas in 2005.

Hakkaku, the JSA chairman, said the association's efforts to bring sumo to audiences abroad were meant to "introduce people to the traditional culture of Japan".

"We thought a lot about how to develop our sport after Covid and I think this was the best idea, but it was already in our plans before that," he said.