Riyadh set stage for 2023 World Combat Games

Article posted by Coliseum, April 26^th, 2022

Image: GAISF

The Global Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF) and the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee recently held a signing ceremony to celebrate that the capital of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Riyadh, will host the 2023 World Combat Games (WCG), an international multisport festival bringing together ancient traditions, exciting competitions and sport demonstrations.

The ‘GAISF’ stated that the nine-day event, which will combine sport and culture in a festival atmosphere, will bring together 15 combat sports and martial arts and include competitions, sport demonstrations, educational conferences, and workshops hosted by leading martial art masters. The event will also feature the first World Martial Arts Gala, honoring the legends of martial arts and combat sports.

The Global Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF) is the umbrella organization for all international sports federations as well as organizers of multisports games and sport-related international associations. It changed its name to SportAccord from March 2009 to April 2017 when it reverted to its former name.

The Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee are the National Olympic Committee and the National Paralympic Committee representing Saudi Arabia. Until the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Saudi Arabia was one of three countries that had never had a female competitor at the games.

The World Combat Games is an international multisport event featuring combat sports and martial arts. The games were founded by SportAccord as a way of bringing various martial arts and combative sports to an international audience. It is a celebration of Martial Arts and Combat Sports inviting the 15 Combat Sports and Martial Arts who are members of GAISF.

The ‘GAISF’ quoted His Royal Highness Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Faisal Al Saud, Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee President, as stating, “The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is honored to have been presented with the opportunity of hosting the world’s best athletes in Riyadh. I would like to express our gratitude to GAISF for their trust in selecting us to host the World Combat Games 2023, which celebrates unity and champions diversity.”

Added GAISF and SportAccord President Ivo Ferriani, “The GAISF is looking forward to this incredible celebration of combat sports and martial arts in the beautiful City of Riyadh. There is no better host for this major multisport game, bringing together the best athletes and their respective international federations in a festival celebratory atmosphere.”

Stated Stephan Fox, GAISF MultiSport Games Chairman and GAISF Vice-President, who is also a former martial arts world champion, “I would like to express our gratitude to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, His Royal Highness Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Faisal Al Saud and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud for their commitment to hosting the World Combat Games 2023, an event very much in line with the Kingdom’s ambitious Saudi Vision 2030. With preparations for the event already well underway and with the support of more than 15 combat sports and martial arts which are Members of GAISF, we have no doubt that this event will be a huge success.”

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