RIYADH: Al-Nassr Football Club, the runners up in the Saudi Pro League this season, signed a platinum sponsorship agreement on Thursday with King Abdullah Financial District Development and Management Company.
Under the deal, the logo of the Riyadh-based company, which is wholly owned by the Public Investment Fund, will be displayed on the first team’s shirts for the next three seasons, according to a media statement. The brand will also feature prominently across the club’s digital platforms, at the stadium, and on team merchandise and promotional materials.
The agreement was signed by Al-Nassr CEO Ahmed Al-Ghamdi and Gautam Sashittal, the CEO of the company, in the presence of board members and executives from both organizations.
“Through this partnership we aim to be drivers of transformation in the sports realm within the Kingdom, fostering a dynamic ecosystem of success, innovation and fan engagement,” said Al-Ghamdi.
Sashittal welcomed the partnership and said authorities in the Kingdom have set ambitious goals and that both organizations, which he described as “game changers” in their respective sectors, are important enablers for efforts to achieve them.
“Over 80 percent of men and women in the Kingdom play, attend or follow football, making this the most important arena for public engagement and the development of health and well-being initiatives,” Sashittal added.
“By the end of 2030, 40 percent of people in the Kingdom will be practicing sports or physical activities on a weekly basis. This vast reach, unparalleled popularity and football's ability, and indeed, Al-Nassr’s ability, to inspire and unite people, young and old, makes the sport an important avenue for socioeconomic transformation.”
The sponsorship deal comes as Saudi Arabia is stepping up its efforts to expand investment in key sectors, including sport. The aim is to enhance the contribution they make to the Saudi economy in line with the aspirations of Vision 2030, the national development and diversification plan.
On June 5, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman launched an investment and privatization project for Saudi sports clubs, with the aim of encouraging private-sector investment to help develop national teams, regional sports clubs, and participation at all levels.
Thanks to the recent growth of Saudi football and a surge in popularity, the Saudi Pro League is now screened by 48 platforms and broadcasters in more than 170 countries.
Attendance at Al-Nassr matches doubled in the past year. In December, the club succeeded in attracting and signing one of the sport’s greatest talents, Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo.
Al-Nassr signs platinum sponsorship deal with Public Investment Fund-owned company
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Al-Nassr signs platinum sponsorship deal with Public Investment Fund-owned company
- King Abdullah Financial District Development and Management Company’s logo will appear on the first team’s football shirts for the next three seasons of the Saudi Pro League
- ‘Through this partnership we aim to be drivers of transformation in the sports realm within the Kingdom,’ said Al-Nassr CEO Ahmed Al-Ghamdi
Saudi Olympian Husein Alireza appointed to IOC Athletes’ Commission
- Rower competed in single sculls event at 2020 Games in Tokyo
- ‘I’m grateful for the trust, inspired by the responsibility,’ he says
JEDDAH: Pioneering Saudi rower Husein Alireza, who competed at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, has been appointed to the International Olympic Committee’s Athletes’ Commission.
Alireza, who reached the quarterfinals of the single sculls event, joins a select group of representatives from around the world tasked with shaping athlete-focused policies and strengthening the voice of competitors within the Olympic Movement.
“I’m grateful for the trust, inspired by the responsibility,” he said of the appointment, which was confirmed by IOC President Kirsty Coventry.
“This group shapes policy, protects the rights of athletes and plays a vital role in influencing the future of global sport. I look forward to doing my part and serving the movement that shaped my life.”
Alireza said his decision to seek the role was influenced by his experience of building a sport from the ground up in Saudi Arabia.
He played a central role in establishing rowing in the Kingdom at a time when the sport had no formal presence, with a small group of athletes taking responsibility for everything from securing funding and equipment to engaging with ministries, visiting schools and laying the foundations for a national program.
“That experience gave me a hands-on understanding of the entire athlete pathway, from grassroots challenges to governance decisions,” he said.
“Many athletes around the world share those same struggles for opportunity and recognition. I want to make sure their realities and their voices help shape the future of sport.”
Building a sport from the ground up had taught him the importance of athlete advocacy, he said.
“When athletes are included in leadership, development accelerates, systems become more responsive and policy moves beyond protection toward genuine empowerment.”
Alireza’s appointment follows consultations with Emma Terho, chair of the Athletes’ Commission, and reflects the IOC’s confidence in his leadership, professionalism and commitment to athlete representation. He already serves on the athletes’ commissions of the Saudi Olympic Committee and the Olympic Council of Asia.
In his new role, Alireza will contribute to shaping the global athlete experience within the Olympic Movement.
The scope of his responsibilities will be clarified in the coming months, including during the commission’s first meeting at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics in February, when strategic priorities and future initiatives will be set.
