Saudi Arabia to Host 1st Gulf Indoor and Martial Arts Games in 2024

The presidents of the Olympic committees of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) met in Muscat on Monday. SPA
The presidents of the Olympic committees of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) met in Muscat on Monday. SPA
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Saudi Arabia to Host 1st Gulf Indoor and Martial Arts Games in 2024

The presidents of the Olympic committees of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) met in Muscat on Monday. SPA
The presidents of the Olympic committees of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) met in Muscat on Monday. SPA

Saudi Arabia will host the first Gulf Indoor and Martial Arts Games from September 30 to October 9 next year.

The presidents of the Olympic committees of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) approved the holding of the games during their 35th meeting in Muscat on Monday.

The Minister of Sport and President of the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee (SOPC), Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki bin Faisal, attended the meeting.

The meeting also approved the activation of the mechanism for exchanging experts and specialists in the sports field between the GCC countries.

Moreover, it endorsed the implementation of the GCC General Secretariat's initiative for on-the-job training among Olympic committees, sports federations, and other relevant bodies involved in sports affairs. These decisions are geared towards fostering the growth and fortification of the collaborative sports framework within the Gulf region.



Arsenal Captain in Final Stages of Recovery from Injury after 2 Months Out

FILE - Arsenal's Martin Odegaard reacts at the end of the English Premier League soccer match between Arsenal and Everton at the Emirates stadium in London, Sunday, May 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant, File)
FILE - Arsenal's Martin Odegaard reacts at the end of the English Premier League soccer match between Arsenal and Everton at the Emirates stadium in London, Sunday, May 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant, File)
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Arsenal Captain in Final Stages of Recovery from Injury after 2 Months Out

FILE - Arsenal's Martin Odegaard reacts at the end of the English Premier League soccer match between Arsenal and Everton at the Emirates stadium in London, Sunday, May 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant, File)
FILE - Arsenal's Martin Odegaard reacts at the end of the English Premier League soccer match between Arsenal and Everton at the Emirates stadium in London, Sunday, May 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant, File)

Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard is in the final stages of his recovery from an ankle injury after nearly two months out, manager Mikel Arteta said Friday.
Arteta said Odegaard wouldn’t play against Newcastle in the Premier League on Saturday but didn’t rule the midfielder out of the trip to Inter Milan in the Champions League on Wednesday, The Associated Press reported.
“Now is the stage where he is going to do certain work with us. Let’s see how he deals with pain and if his movement is natural enough,” Arteta said.
“He’s physically now at the level required to compete. With the work rate and hours he has put in, I’d be surprised that the moment he starts training with us, he looks ready. Hopefully soon.”
Odegaard was injured playing for Norway in a Nations League group-stage match on Sept. 9 and Arsenal has missed his creativity and leadership. After collecting just one point from its last two games, Arsenal is in third place, five points behind leader Manchester City.
Arteta said left back Riccardo Calafiori would also miss the Newcastle game because of injury but fellow defender Gabriel will be in contention if he trains well on Friday.