Saudi Arabia asks for western consultation to host the 2030 World Cup
June 12, 2021, 4:53 am

World cup

The Middle East Eye reported, citing New York Times, that Riyadh hires Boston Consulting Group to work on tournament bid, and asks other Western consultants for help. World Cup

According to MEE, one of the advisers working on the Saudi bid said a number of Western consultants had been asked to help with the project, which is currently being headed by the Boston Consulting Group.

The adviser noted the bid would require "out of the box thinking", including a potential agreement to host the tournament with a European partner country, MEE added.

Any attempt to secure hosting rights for the tournament would ultimately be difficult, considering its Gulf neighbour Qatar is hosting the 2022 tournament.

A Saudi Arabia bid for the tournament would also face strong competition from several European countries, including the UK, where officials have placed their full support behind a proposed 2030 bid.

In October, Spain and Portugal confirmed plans to enter a joint bid while Romania, Greece, Bulgaria and Serbia have also signalled their intent to launch a combined bid.

News of a potential Saudi Arabia bid comes after Fifa approved a request from the Saudi Football Federation to study staging the World Cup and Women's World Cup every two years instead of four, which would give more opportunities for other countries to host.

Riyadh maintains close links with Fifa, and its president, Gianni Infantino, visited the kingdom in January and held talks with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, where the two reportedly talked about "the role football can play as a uniting factor in the region".

Sports and entertainment events have formed part of the kingdom’s Vision 2030 strategy to diversify the economy and improve its international reputation.

Last year, the kingdom was unsuccessful in an attempt to take over the English football club Newcastle United. This week it failed to win a contract to secure broadcasting rights for the Champions League, losing out to Qatar's beIN network.

Rights groups have repeatedly warned against allowing Riyadh to host major sporting events, accusing the kingdom of "sportswashing" its human rights abuses, including the persecution and jailing of dissidents and activists, as well as the killing of Middle East Eye columnist Jamal Khashoggi. World Cup

levant

Source: Middle East Eye

Image Source: AFP-Middle East Eye

COVID-19: Boris Johnson may delay 21 June lockdown lifting Extinction Rebellion climate activists "sound the alarm" at G7 summit

BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has announced its sponsorship of the “Innovation and Sustainable Technology Solutions Competition (GU - IST Solutions), hosted by Gulf University at its main campus.
This strategic sponsorship reflects BENEFIT’s active role in advancing technological innovation and fostering sustainable solutions to future challenges. It also seeks to empower Bahraini youth by enhancing their skills, capabilities, and competitiveness in innovation and solution development—contributing meaningfully to the broader goals of sustainable development across all sectors.
As part of BENEFIT’s active involvement in the competition, the company has announced that Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager of Public Relations and Communication, will serve on the competition’s supervisory committee. Her upcoming participation reflects BENEFIT’s forward-looking commitment to championing academic and professional excellence.
Commenting on the occasion, Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager of Public Relations and Communication at BENEFIT, said, “We are privileged to support this pioneering initiative, which aligns seamlessly with BENEFIT’s enduring commitment to fostering innovation and nurturing the potential of Bahrain’s youth. Our participation is rooted in a deep sense of social responsibility and a firm belief in the pivotal role of innovation in shaping a sustainable future. Through such platforms, we seek to empower the next generation with the knowledge, skills, and foresight required to develop impactful solutions that address future challenges, in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 2030.”
Dr. Aseel Al Ayash Dean of the College of Engineering in Gulf University commented, “We extend our sincere gratitude to BENEFIT for their generous sponsorship and support of the Innovation and Sustainable Technology Solutions Competition. This contribution plays an instrumental role in helping us achieve the strategic goals of this initiative, namely, cultivating a culture of innovation and sustainability, encouraging efforts that address the imperatives of sustainable development, and enhancing the practical and professional capabilities of our students and participants.”
The event will bring together a diverse spectrum of participants, including secondary school students, university undergraduates, engineers, industry professionals, entrepreneurs, academic researchers, and subject matter experts representing a wide range of disciplines.
The competition seeks to inspire participants to develop and present innovative, sustainable technologies aimed at addressing pressing environmental, social, and economic challenges. It encourages the formulation of business models that integrate advanced technological solutions with core principles of sustainability. Moreover, it serves as a platform for emerging leaders, entrepreneurs, and innovators to contribute to the advancement of the Sustainable Development Goals, promote the ethos of responsible technology, and demonstrate its transformative potential across various sectors.
Attendees will have the opportunity to view a series of project presentations submitted by participants, covering diverse areas such as eco-friendly product design, smart and sustainable innovations, renewable energy technologies, water conservation and management, waste minimisation and recycling, green architectural solutions, and sustainable transportation systems. Outstanding projects will be formally recognised and awarded at the conclusion of the event.