Riyadh to Host Peace and Sport Middle East Forum on 18-19 October

Riyadh to Host Peace and Sport Middle East Forum on 18-19 October
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Riyadh to Host Peace and Sport Middle East Forum on 18-19 October

Riyadh to Host Peace and Sport Middle East Forum on 18-19 October

Saudi Arabia's Capital Riyadh will host the Peace and Sport Middle East Forum for the first time, powered by the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee on 18-19 October.
The forum will be held under the theme, “Sport is an answer for peace”, at the Cultural Palace in Riyadh-based Diplomatic Quarter in cooperation with the Peace and Sport organization.
The forum aims to deploy sports to spread positive values, attitudes, and behavior to consolidate international peace, given the sports’ strong influence and role as a global communication tool and a language spoken by all.
Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki bin Faisal, the Minister of Sports and Chairman of the Saudi Olympic & Paralympic Committee, has thanked the Saudi leadership for its unlimited support for the sports sector in the Kingdom, SPA reported.
He added that such support has helped turn the Kingdom into a hub for major international sports events.
The minister welcomed all participants at the forum from around the world in their second home, hoping that it would contribute to enhancing the role of sports in achieving international peace.



Zelenskiy Lauds Champion Usyk’s Perseverance in Victory over Fury in Riyadh

 Boxers Britain's Tyson Fury, right, and Ukraine's Oleksandr Usyk compete during their WBA, WBO, and WBC world heavyweight title fight in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024. (AP)
Boxers Britain's Tyson Fury, right, and Ukraine's Oleksandr Usyk compete during their WBA, WBO, and WBC world heavyweight title fight in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024. (AP)
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Zelenskiy Lauds Champion Usyk’s Perseverance in Victory over Fury in Riyadh

 Boxers Britain's Tyson Fury, right, and Ukraine's Oleksandr Usyk compete during their WBA, WBO, and WBC world heavyweight title fight in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024. (AP)
Boxers Britain's Tyson Fury, right, and Ukraine's Oleksandr Usyk compete during their WBA, WBO, and WBC world heavyweight title fight in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024. (AP)

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy hailed Oleksandr Usyk's victory over Tyson Fury to retain the WBA (Super), WBO and WBC world heavyweight titles in Riyadh, saying the boxer embodied the fighting spirit of Ukrainians.

Undefeated Usyk, who took Fury's WBC belt in their first bout in May, beat the British two-time world champion in the rematch by unanimous decision, handing him the second loss of his professional career.

"Victory! So important and so needed by all of us right now," Zelenskiy, who had led Ukraine in its war with Russia since Moscow invaded its neighbor in 2022, wrote on X.

"By defending his championship belt, Oleksandr Usyk proves: we are Ukrainians and we will not give up what is ours! No matter how hard it gets - we will overcome everything.

"Whether it is in the ring, on the battlefield or in the diplomatic arena - we will fight and we will not give up what is ours! Congratulations on your victory, Cossack! Congratulations on your victory, Ukraine!"

Former world champion Wladimir Klitschko, who enlisted in the Ukrainian military reserves before Russia's invasion, was at the Kingdom Arena to witness Usyk's victory.

"Ukraine is fortunate to have you. You're a true standard-bearer of our resilience... glory to Ukraine," Klitschko wrote on X.