Saudi Sports for All Federation partners with Gulf Health Council to promote physical activity in Kingdom

SFA President Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed bin Talal Al Saud (right) and General Manager of the Gulf Health Council (GHC) Sulaiman AlDakheel. (SFA)
Short Url
Updated 29 October 2021
Follow

Saudi Sports for All Federation partners with Gulf Health Council to promote physical activity in Kingdom

  • Agreement will focus on health awareness initiatives and healthier lifestyles among Saudi population

RIYADH: The Gulf Health Council and Saudi Sports for All Federation have signed partnership deal to promote physical activity and healthy lifestyle programs in the Kingdom.

The agreement was signed at the Ministry of Sports headquarters, in the presence of SFA President Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed bin Talal, Gulf Health Council General Manager Sulaiman Al-Dakheel, and SFA Managing Director Shaima Saleh Al-Husseini.

Under agreement, the SFA and GHC will collaborate to promote health awareness initiatives and communicate the importance of participating in sports and physical activity.

The organization will further work together to activate health awareness campaigns and use their communications channels and social media platforms to reach a bigger audience across the Gulf.

The new initiatives will follow “For You and Life” and “Mental Health” campaigns, which aim to use sports to promote mental health.

“The agreement will see the Saudi Sports for All Federation working together with the Gulf Health Council to explore opportunities to launch programs, activities, and events that help spread the culture of sports and health aimed at building a healthier and more vibrant society.,” said Prince Khaled.

“The agreement is another example of SFA’s collaboration with regional and international bodies, whether in the Kingdom or GCC countries, to build a healthier, more active, and spirited society by launching innovative sports and health initiatives,” he added.

Prince Khaled said that the partnership is in line with the SFA strategy to work with the public and private sector to achieve the Vision 2030 Quality of Life objectives.

“The agreement forms part of the Council’s ongoing efforts to work with government agencies to provide health solutions that will have an impact on all members of the Gulf community,” said Al-Dakheel.

“Sports, physical activity, and health awareness are important elements in the council’s objectives focused on prevention, awareness, development, and health support. The collaboration with the Saudi Sports for All Federation will help us spread health awareness initiatives, enhance awareness of physical activity, which will, in turn, improve the quality of life. 

Supported by the Ministry of Sport, the SFA is mandated by Vision 2030’s Quality of Life Program to increase the ratio of people in the Kingdom exercising at least once a week to 40 percent by 2030.


Tennis world number ones Sabalenka, Alcaraz begin Australian Open campaigns

Updated 57 min 9 sec ago
Follow

Tennis world number ones Sabalenka, Alcaraz begin Australian Open campaigns

  • Carlos Alcaraz, who could complete a career Grand Slam if he wins the tournament, faces Adam Walton
  • Aryna Sabalenka takes on Tiantsoa Rakotomanga Rajaonah as she seeks a third title at Melbourne Park

MELBOURNE: The first round of the Australian Open begins in Melbourne on Sunday.
World number one Carlos Alcaraz, who could complete a career Grand Slam if he wins the tournament, faces Adam Walton, while Aryna Sabalenka takes on Tiantsoa Rakotomanga Rajaonah as she seeks a third title at Melbourne Park.
Top men’s match: Alcaraz v Walton
At 22, Alcaraz could replace Don Budge as the youngest man to achieve the career Grand Slam with victory at the Australian Open. The Spaniard has left no one in any doubt what his main goal is for the 2026 season, saying in November he would rather win a first Melbourne Park crown than retain his French and US Open titles.
His quest to make history will begin with a first-round tie against ‌Australian Walton.
The pair ‌have crossed paths once before, with Alcaraz beating the ‌Australian ⁠6-4 7-6(4) during ‌his title-winning run at the Queen’s Club Championships last year.
Top women’s match: Sabalenka v Rakotomanga Rajaonah
Sabalenka will be bidding to continue her incredible record in hard court Grand Slam tournaments when she begins her campaign against Frenchwoman Rakotomanga Rajaonah.
The Belarusian world number one has reached the final of the last six majors she has played on the surface, winning four of those.
She enters the competition in fine form after retaining her Brisbane International title this ⁠month without losing a set, and should have little trouble when she takes on the 118th-ranked Rakotomanga Rajaonah.
Venus ‌Williams is back
Venus Williams, a two-times Australian Open singles ‍finalist, returns to the tournament for the ‍first time since 2021 after receiving a wildcard.
The 45-year-old faces Olga Danilovic in ‍the first round, where she is set to become the oldest woman to feature in the Australian Open main draw by surpassing Japan’s Kimiko Date, who was 44 when she bowed out in the first round in 2015.
Williams has endured a poor start to the season, losing to Magda Linette in the first round in Auckland and to Tatjana Maria in her opening match at the Hobart International.
Despite her defeats, she ⁠said she was happy with her level.
“I can’t expect perfection right now, but I know I’m playing good tennis. Winning and losing doesn’t know any age. Once you walk on court, you’re there to compete,” Williams said before her defeat in Hobart.
Australian Open order of play on Sunday
Here is the order of play on the main showcourts on the first day of the Australian Open (prefix number denotes seeding):
Rod Laver Arena
- Day session
Aliaksandra Sasnovich (Belarus) v 7-Jasmine Paolini (Italy)
3-Alexander Zverev (Germany) v Gabriel Diallo (Canada)
- Night session
1-Aryna Sabalenka (Belarus) v Tiantsoa Rakotomanga Rajaonah (France)
1-Carlos Alcaraz (Spain) v Adam Walton (Australia)
Margaret Court Arena
- Day session
Maria Sakkari (Greece) v Leolia Jeanjean (France)
18-Francisco Cerundolo (Argentina) v Zhang Zhizhen (China)
- Night session
10-Alexander Bublik (Kazakhstan) v Jenson Brooksby (US)
Mananchaya Sawangkaew (Thailand) v 28-Emma Raducanu (Britain)
John Cain Arena
- Day ‌session
Arthur Fery (Britain) v 20-Flavio Cobolli (Italy)
- Day session
12-Elina Svitolina (Ukraine) v Cristina Bucsa (Spain)
- Night session
29-Frances Tiafoe (US) v Jason Kubler (Australia)
Olga Danilovic (Serbia) v Venus Williams (US)