Business of Sport Jack Nicklaus rejects $100m to be face of Saudi-backed golf tour American golf legend Jack Nicklaus turned down $100 million to become the face of the Saudi-backed LIV Golf Invitational Series, which debuts in London next month and is tipped as a controversial new rival to the PGA Tour, it was reported this week. “I was offered something in excess of $100 million by the Saudis,” […] May 18, 2022
Saudi Arabia Vision 2030 Qiddiya: A sports and arts revolution Marketed as the kingdom’s capital of entertainment, sports and the arts, Qiddiya is beginning to take shape 45 minutes’ drive south-west of Riyadh. First announced in 2017 as part of Vision 2030, Qiddiya has a dual economic and social purpose – to contribute to the advancement of Saudi Arabia’s economic diversification and to open up […] May 18, 2022
Business of Sport Japan edges ahead of Saudi and Qatar to host Asian Cup The Japan Football Association (JFA) has been informally approached about the possibility of replacing China as hosts of next year’s Asian Cup, Chairman Kozo Tashima told Nikkan Sports. The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) announced last Saturday that China had pulled out of hosting the 24-team continental championship, citing the COVID-19 situation in the country. “We […] May 18, 2022
Analysis Business of Sport Qatar may tackle Asian Cup as replacement host for China The 2023 Asian Cup could be shifting west to the Gulf, where new infrastructure has made the region a magnet for international tournaments, after China withdrew as host. China had planned to hold the Asian Cup across 10 cities in June-July next year, but has dropped the 24-team tournament because of “exceptional circumstances caused by […] May 17, 2022
Business of Sport Newcastle United strip to be Saudi Arabia green Newcastle United’s away kit for next season will be green and white, to reflect the club’s new owners from Saudi Arabia. Public Investment Fund (PIF), Saudi’s sovereign wealth fund, bought an 80 percent stake in the football club for £305 million last October. And to attract more supporters from the region the players will wear […] May 13, 2022
Business of Sport Qatar looks to Iran for World Cup support Qatar’s emir is planning to use his visit to Tehran tomorrow to discuss ways Iran can help with the staging of the FIFA World Cup, including increasing flights between the two countries. “Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani will travel to Iran tomorrow to follow up on recent agreements and expand bilateral ties, notably cooperation […] May 11, 2022
Business of Sport PGA Tour bans golfers from taking part in Saudi-backed event The PGA Tour on Tuesday rejected requests from players for authorisation to play the first Saudi-backed LIV Golf Invitational Series event in London next month. The new series, which offers the promise of super-sized prize money, is set to begin June 9 and would conflict with the RBC Canadian Open, a PGA Tour official told […] May 11, 2022
Business of Sport Abu Dhabi nets its first NBA games The Atlanta Hawks and 2021 NBA champions the Milwaukee Bucks will play preseason games at Etihad Arena on Yas Island in October May 10, 2022
Analysis Business of Sport Qatar scores as World Cup host but may not net long-term goals Tucked behind Doha’s $300-million Lusail Boulevard, where construction workers are toiling to transform desert into a Champs-Elysees-inspired commercial thoroughfare before the 2022 soccer World Cup, sits a sole convenience store. With the main stadium, four skyscrapers and apartments designed for some 200,000 people all in Lusail, its manager Younes waits somewhat anxiously behind his till, […] May 5, 2022
