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King Salman Presides over Saudi Cup Ceremony

The Saudi Cup is the world’s most valuable horse race. (SPA)
The Saudi Cup is the world’s most valuable horse race. (SPA)
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King Salman Presides over Saudi Cup Ceremony

The Saudi Cup is the world’s most valuable horse race. (SPA)
The Saudi Cup is the world’s most valuable horse race. (SPA)

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz, the Honorary President of the Equestrian Club, sponsored on Saturday the Saudi Cup ceremony.

The Saudi Cup is the world’s most valuable horse race.

The event took place at the King Abdulaziz Equestrian Racetrack in Riyadh.

King Salman was welcomed at the venue by Prince Khalid Al-Faisal bin Abdulaziz, Advisor to the King and Governor of Makkah Region, Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz, Governor of Riyadh Region, Prince Bandar bin Khalid Al-Faisal, Advisor at the Royal Court and Chairman of the Equestrian Club, Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal, Minister of Sport, Prince Abdullah bin Khalid bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz, Saudi Ambassador to Austria and Director of the Equestrian Club Adel Al-Mazrou.

Saturday’s race has a maximum field of 14 runners and be run over nine furlongs (1,800m) on dirt.

The prize for the winning horse will be $10 million, with horses down to 10th place sharing another $10 million between them.

Announcing the first staging of the event on Wednesday, Prince Bandar bin Khalid Al Faisal, the chairman of the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia, said: “The introduction of the Saudi Cup as an international race, is without doubt the most significant event in the history of horse racing in Saudi Arabia.”

“It demonstrates our resolve to develop this great sport in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and also our ambition to become a leading player on horse racing’s world stage.”

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Congo Gears up for 50th Anniversary of Boxing’s ‘Rumble in the Jungle’

In this photo taken on October 30, 1974 shows the fight between US boxing heavyweight champions, Muhammad Ali (L) and George Foreman in Kinshasa. (AFP)
In this photo taken on October 30, 1974 shows the fight between US boxing heavyweight champions, Muhammad Ali (L) and George Foreman in Kinshasa. (AFP)
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Congo Gears up for 50th Anniversary of Boxing’s ‘Rumble in the Jungle’

In this photo taken on October 30, 1974 shows the fight between US boxing heavyweight champions, Muhammad Ali (L) and George Foreman in Kinshasa. (AFP)
In this photo taken on October 30, 1974 shows the fight between US boxing heavyweight champions, Muhammad Ali (L) and George Foreman in Kinshasa. (AFP)

A half century since the "Rumble in the Jungle" was beamed around the world from the Congolese capital, the city is preparing for anniversary celebrations to mark the heavyweight showdown that inspired a generation of boxers.

Underdog Muhammad Ali triumphed over the then-undefeated champion George Foreman on Oct. 30, 1974 in a match that became legend.

Ahead of the festivities being organized by the Democratic Republic of Congo's presidency and the US Embassy, about 20 boxers from across Africa recalled the fight as they sparred at a sports ground in Kinshasa during an amateur championship this month.

"The fight of the century ... is a great memory for us. It's a cause for great celebration for the Congolese because it happened here," said Tshilombo Mukadi, coach of Congo's national boxing team.

"It means a lot to the young people, we encourage them with this so as not to erase history."

His boxers were among those ducking and weaving in the dusky light at the open air ground, gearing up for the 21st African Amateur Boxing Championship.

"Muhammad Ali was more technical and made an impressive spectacle. We can learn a lot from following his movements," said Zadia Modestine, a boxer from Kinshasa whom Mukadi had earlier put through her paces.

The televised fight attracted some of the world's most prominent figures to a country known by most westerners at the time only for its periodic bouts of instability.

In victory, Ali regained the world title seven years after it was stripped from him for refusing to be drafted to fight in Vietnam, cementing his iconic status which has endured to this day.