Saudi Eastern Region Governor receives Torch for 2024 Saudi Games

Dammam, Prince Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz, Saudi Governor of the Eastern Region, received the torch of the third edition of the Saudi Games 2024 at his office today as part of its promotional tour for the largest national sports event in the Kingdom. Prince Saud bin Naif praised the support provided by the leadership to the sports sector and athletes in the Kingdom, emphasising that the Saudi Games reflect the significant progress that Saudi sports have achieved. He expressed his best wishes to all participants in this year's competition to achieve their ambitions and aspirations, according to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA). The torch was handed to the governor by athlete Mohammed Al Mukhalis, who won the gold medal at the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation (IBJJF) World Championship 2021 in the United States, the gold medal at the IBJJF World Championship 2022 in Dallas, the gold medal at the IBJJF World Championship 2023 in Las Vegas, and the Abu Dhabi World Master Jiu-Jitsu Championship 2022. He is also a coach and player for Al Qadisiyah Jiu-Jitsu Club. Several athletes took turns carrying the torch, including Shereen Abulhassan, Vice President of the Saudi Rowing Federation and a member of the Women and Youth Development Committee at the Asian Youth Federation. She is an activist and athlete who, in 2017, founded the Rawasi Hiking Team, the first Saudi women's hiking team and has climbed many global peaks, such as Kilimanjaro, Elbrus, Fuji, Everest Base Camp, and many European summits, among other races. The torch tour began in the Eastern Region at the Corniche Square in Khobar in a festive atmosphere, where the torch was carried by weightlifter Mohammed Al Halio, who won the bronze medal in the snatch for the 73 kilograms weight category at the World Championships under 17 in Peru. He then handed it over to Lina Qari, who won the bronze medal at the 2024 Asian Championship, the silver medal at the 2024 European Jiu-Jitsu Championship, the bronze medal at the 2023 Saudi Games, the silver medal a t the 2023 Abu Dhabi World Jiu-Jitsu Championship, and the bronze medal at the 2023 Thailand Open Grand Championship. The journey continued to one of the most prominent tourist and entertainment landmarks in the Eastern Region, where the torch was carried to Candle Square. There, it was carried by Mohammed Al Ali, who won the gold medal at the 2024 Arab Championship for Athletes with Disabilities and the silver medal at the West Asian Para Games in badminton. He handed the torch to weightlifter Mohammed Al Ajjan, who won three silver medals at the World Championships under 17 in Peru in 2024 and three gold and two silver medals at the 2023 Arab Championships in Egypt in snatch, clean and jerk. This year's torch tour aims to visit the top cultural, historical, and tourist landmarks, covering 56 famous sites across the Kingdom. It is accompanied by several champions and influencers who have made significant contributions and achievements, with local communities celebrating the largest national sports event in the Kingdom. Source: Bahrain News Agency