In a span of just a few years, the gulf, oil-rich country of Saudi Arabia has made a dramatic leap into the world of international sports. The country formed a new golf league, LIV Golf, which is now a solid competitor to the longstanding organization, PGA of America. They’ve spent many billions of dollars to expand their presence in soccer, reportedly paying Portuguese sensation, Cristiano Ronaldo $213 million dollars a year to play for a prominent Saudi soccer team. Today, they also have a presence in Formula 1 racing, boxing, tennis – the list goes on and on. In part one of this two-part story, we cover the history of sport in Saudi Arabia and some of the explanations behind why the country is so focused on becoming a global sports hub.
Guest Information:
- Simon Chadwick, professor, sports & geopolitical economics, Skema Business School.
Leave a Reply