Saudi Arabia Pledges 'Outstanding Experience' for Football Fans at FIFA Club World Cup

Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki bin Faisal bin Abdulaziz.  -SPA
Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki bin Faisal bin Abdulaziz. -SPA
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Saudi Arabia Pledges 'Outstanding Experience' for Football Fans at FIFA Club World Cup

Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki bin Faisal bin Abdulaziz.  -SPA
Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki bin Faisal bin Abdulaziz. -SPA

Minister of Sport and President of the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee (SOPC) Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Faisal expressed the Kingdom’s commitment to delivering an exceptional experience for football fans during the FIFA Club World Cup in Jeddah, SPA reported.
Saudi Arabia is hosting the tournament for the first time from December 12 to 22, featuring seven competing teams representing the sport’s six continental regions.
"We are delighted to host the FIFA Club World Cup on Saudi Arabian soil for the first time, which reflects the remarkable progress our great nation is witnessing, praise be to Allah," stated the minister of sport.
He further noted that progress in this regard has transformed the Kingdom into a preferred global destination for athletes and a hub for organizing major events across various sports.
The minister attributed this progress to the unwavering support of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Kingdom.

The minister extended a warm welcome to all participating teams and sports fans from around the world, underscoring the Kingdom’s commitment to providing football enthusiasts with an extraordinary experience.
He highlighted the previous sports events hosted by the Kingdom, which serve as “a testament to its ascent to global leadership in sports.”



Number of Tennis Players Worldwide Goes Past 100 Million, Federation Says

Tennis - Davis Cup Finals - Final - Italy v Netherlands - Palacio de Deportes Jose Maria Martin Carpena Arena, Malaga, Spain - November 24, 2024  Italy's Jannik Sinner during his singles match against Netherlands' Tallon Griekspoor REUTERS/Jon Nazca
Tennis - Davis Cup Finals - Final - Italy v Netherlands - Palacio de Deportes Jose Maria Martin Carpena Arena, Malaga, Spain - November 24, 2024 Italy's Jannik Sinner during his singles match against Netherlands' Tallon Griekspoor REUTERS/Jon Nazca
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Number of Tennis Players Worldwide Goes Past 100 Million, Federation Says

Tennis - Davis Cup Finals - Final - Italy v Netherlands - Palacio de Deportes Jose Maria Martin Carpena Arena, Malaga, Spain - November 24, 2024  Italy's Jannik Sinner during his singles match against Netherlands' Tallon Griekspoor REUTERS/Jon Nazca
Tennis - Davis Cup Finals - Final - Italy v Netherlands - Palacio de Deportes Jose Maria Martin Carpena Arena, Malaga, Spain - November 24, 2024 Italy's Jannik Sinner during his singles match against Netherlands' Tallon Griekspoor REUTERS/Jon Nazca

The number of people who play tennis has surpassed 100 million worldwide, according to the International Tennis Federation.
A global report released by the federation on Thursday said that nearly 106 million people around the world played at least one game of tennis in the last year, an increase of 25% compared to 2019.
According to The Associated Press, the federation said it was on track to add 30 million players to the game since that report in 2019.
The total number of women who play tennis grew by 8%, but the proportion of female players decreased from 47% in 2019 to 40% now. The federation said there are 13% more coaches in general, and 24% are women, compared to 20% in 2019.
ITF tennis development director Luca Santilli said there was no “specific reason" for the decrease in the percentage of women players, but he expected that the increase in the number of female coaches was going to help make a “difference” in getting more women playing the game.