The Sports Boulevard has launched the ‘Walking Track’ initiative at Al-Nakheel Mall in Riyadh, encouraging residents and visitors of the Saudi capital to engage in physical exercise. The length of the walking track inside the mall is 506 meters, equivalent to approximately 750 steps.
This Ramadan-exclusive initiative promotes physical activity in the community and increases public awareness about walking and the quality facilities that the Sports Boulevard project will provide upon completion. It is part of the Sports Boulevard’s commitment to social responsibility toward the community. The initiative has received significant interest and interaction from community members, who have pledged to make walking a regular habit.
Another initiative of the Sports Boulevard, RIYDE, offers an immersive cycling experience designed to encourage a culture of cycling and sports. It uses cutting-edge technology to bring cycling to Riyadh’s residents, allowing them to ride virtual routes and compete against one another in an immersive cycling booth.
RIYDE was launched in early February, consisting of a virtual 5.24 km route, the equivalent of 10-15 minutes of cycling, which can be tailored to differing fitness abilities.
In addition to participating in the RIYDE experience, visitors to the booth are also able to use virtual reality technology to explore how the Sports Boulevard will transform Riyadh once completed.
Ahmed bin Askar, chief of communications at the Sports Boulevard Foundation, said: “At the Sports Boulevard, we seek to contribute to improving the quality of life by enabling residents and visitors of Riyadh to adopt a lifestyle based on making healthier and more sustainable choices, in addition to promoting sports practice and community participation. The ‘Walking Track’ initiative in commercial centers has a tangible impact among community members, and we are keen to activate these initiatives to fulfill our social responsibility toward our community.”
The Sports Boulevard is one of Riyadh’s megaprojects launched by King Salman on March 19, 2019. Supported by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the project extends more than 135 km on Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Road connecting Wadi Hanifah in the west with Wadi Al-Sulai in the east through a grid of safe green pathways for pedestrians, cyclists, athletes, and horse-riders.
The project includes more than 4.4 million square meters of greenery and open spaces, and up to 50 multidisciplinary sports facilities.