Day: April 19, 2024

Riyadh: – The FEI Jumping and Dressage World Cup Finals began yesterday at the Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Center. President of the Saudi Arabian Equestrian Federation (SAEF) Prince Abdullah bin Fahd bin Abdullah, in a speech at the event opening ceremony, welcomed the 51 participants from 24 countries including the six top-ranked show jumping riders.

Prince Abdullah said: “We are delighted that the capital Riyadh is the first host of the FEI Jumping and Dressage World Cup Finals 2024 in the Middle East and North Africa region, since its inception nearly 46 years ago.”

He said that preparations for hosting the tournament started over four years ago to ensure that the venue is fitting for the champions, participants, and fans around the world.

Selecting Riyadh to host the event is proof of the great confidence in Saudi Arabia’s capacity to host international sporting events, he stressed, adding that this was made possible due to the great support Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Sal
man bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud and His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, give the sector, as well as to the constant follow up of Minister of Sport and Chairman of the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki bin Faisal.

Prince Abdullah said famous riders from all over the world participated, alongside three Saudi riders who strove to win and represent their country well.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Riyadh: – Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Jassim Mohammed Al-Budaiwi emphasized the GCC firm position in support of the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination and the establishment of an independent state on the borders of June 4, 1967, with East Jerusalem as its capital, and urged the international community to work decisively and without delay to ensure the recognition of the State of Palestine and grant the Palestinian people with their basic and legitimate rights, in accordance with UN resolutions and international law.

Al-Budaiwi said that the US veto of the Palestinian membership application to the UN is a step backward in the efforts to achieve just and comprehensive peace in the Middle East.

He stressed that the UN Security Council must take serious steps to re-evaluate international mechanisms concerning peace, to ensures that peoples’ rights are respected and regional and global security and stability are safeguarded, stressing that all countries and internat
ional organizations must stand by justice and support efforts to restore rights and build a better future for all the peoples of the region and the world.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Cairo, Arab Parliament Speaker Adel bin Abdulrahman Al-Asoumi has denounced the UN Security Council inability to issue a resolution enabling the State of Palestine to obtain full UN membership, criticizing the US’ use of veto, which contributes to the usurpation of the legitimate right of the Palestinians to have a state and become full UN member.

In a statement today, Al-Asoumi stressed the need to enable the Palestinian people to fully exercise all their legitimate rights through international recognition of a Palestinian state, and to raise the flag of Palestine at the UN headquarters. He also called on the international community to assume its legal and historical responsibility to end the brutal occupation of the Palestinian territories and help reach a final and fair solution to the Palestinian issue, that sees the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem.

Al-Asoumi reaffirmed his continued support for the legitimate rights of the Palestinians at regional and internationa
l fora.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Riyadh: – The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) released a report on enforcement actions taken during the first quarter of 2024, in which it shows that over SAR5.3 million were levied in fines from entities and individuals found to be in breach of the law, executive regulations, and GACA directives.

The report, compiled by the committee tasked with reviewing violations of the Civil Aviation Law, said 185 citations were issued. It identifies air carriers as the leading sources of violations, accounting for 111 infractions, which resulted in fines exceeding SAR3.6 million. Additionally, 31 violations were attributed to air carriers for non-adherence to the executive regulations safeguarding passenger rights, which resulted in penalties exceeding SAR1.3 million.

Individuals were issued 38 violations for a range of offenses, including unauthorized access to restricted areas, incidents aboard aircraft, and the unauthorized use of drones. One violation cited was operating a lightweight aircraft without p
roper authorization. These individual infractions were penalized, resulting in SAR252,700 in fines.

GACA emphasized that these measures were taken to uphold the principles of transparency and accountability. It also reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to its regulatory and supervisory role in the Kingdom’s aviation sector.

The authority’s actions aim to improve the passenger experience and elevate the overall quality of air transport services offered in Saudi Arabia.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Riyadh: – The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) expressed the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s regret over the failure of the UN Security Council to adopt a draft resolution accepting full UN membership of the State of Palestine.

MoFA said in a press release stressed that obstructing the acceptance of full membership of the State of Palestine in the UN contributes to perpetuating the intransigence of the Israeli occupation forces and their continued violations, with impunity, of international law, and does nothing to bring the desired peace closer.

MoFA renewed the Kingdom’s demand that the international community assume its responsibility to stop the Israeli attacks on civilians in Gaza Strip, and support the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination and to establish their state on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, in accordance with the Arab Peace Initiative and other relevant international resolutions.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Riyadh: The Saudi Arabian Equestrian Federation pulled off a logistical feat, transforming the Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Center into a world-class equestrian hub in just 35 days.

This impressive turnaround ensured that the venue met the rigorous standards of the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) and delivered a stage befitting the prestigious Show Jumping and Dressage World Cup, which started on April 17.

The newly named “Arena” serves as the tournament’s nerve center, encompassing competition areas, spectator stands, horse stables, and a dedicated events village. The competition fields, boasting a floor weight of 2.5 tons, are a marvel of engineering – a carefully calibrated mix of fiber, light sand, and specialized materials. This innovative blend ensures optimal footing for both riders and horses, maximizing safety and performance.

Every aspect adheres to meticulously defined FEI specifications, overseen by qualified soil experts. The main competition field sprawls across 3,
400 square meters, while warm-up areas add an additional 4,600 square meters of training space.

The organizers did not overlook aesthetics either, equipping the enclosed arena with cutting-edge lighting that meets FEI requirements, including dedicated illumination for the opening and closing ceremonies. A colossal 56-square-meter screen situated in the main square ensures that spectators do not miss a single moment of the action.

Horse Haven Established:

Understanding the crucial role of equine comfort, the Saudi Arabian Equestrian Federation built dedicated stables for participating horses. The state-of-the-art facility boasts a spacious 2,700 square meters and features 81 individual horse stalls, each a generous 12 square meters. These comfortable boxes are equipped with specialized flooring and a unique rotating mechanism, allowing for optimal horse movement within the confines of the stables.

The Saudi Arabian Equestrian Federation’s commitment to excellence shines through in this remarkable feat. The
rapid and meticulous preparation has laid the groundwork for a successful World Cup event, showcasing the Kingdom’s dedication to equestrian sports on the world stage.

The competition, which ends today, April 19, featured a stellar lineup of 51 riders of both genders and 60 horses, representing 24 countries.

Source: Saudi Press Agency