RIYADH, 25 January — Austrian Ambassador Dr. Harald Wiesner officially inaugurated the Inter-School Under 14/17 Cricket Tournament yesterday. Ten cricket teams are participating in the first such event of its kind here. The finals scheduled on March 21.
The inter-school tournament has been sponsored by Arab News and Power Horse energy drink as part of their plan to promote cricket in the Kingdom. Besides the ambassador, Khaled Al-Maeena, editor in chief of Arab News, Hermann Ritz, country manager of Power Horse energy drink, Abdul Qadeer Mirza, president of Riyadh Cricket Association, Asif Saleem, vice president, and other RCA office-bearers were also present.
Eight RCA grounds on the outskirts of Riyadh were bustling with hundreds of cricket enthusiasts on a bright but chilly afternoon as the under-14 and under-17 teams went into action.
Manarat Al Riyadh defeated Pakistan International School by nine wickets after they had made short work of PIS, who were skittled out for 41. Some members of the International Indian School were injured as a result of stone-throwing by some spectators.
But the players carried on.
Later, the ambassdor, accompanied by Al Maeena and the RCA office-bearers, toured all the cricket grounds for a snapshot view of the matches.
The teams under-17 include Bangladesh International School, Indian International School, Pakistan International School (English and Urdu Sections), Manarat Al-Riyadh School. The under-14 teams are: Al Momin International School; Bangladesh International School (English Section); British School Riyadh; Pakistan International School (English and Urdu Sections).
The fixtures began on Jan. 10 with BIS playing against PIS (Urdu Section). Since then four matches have already been held. The tournament will continue with a break for Eid Al-Adha holidays before resuming on March 7. The semifinals have been scheduled for March 14 and the finals on March 21.
Speaking to Arab News, Hermann Ritz said their sponsorship of the inter-school cricket tournament is in line with their policy of supporting popular sports among the expatriate community. In this context, he disclosed Power Horse plans to sponsor the first-ever ice hockey tournament in the Middle East that will start off in Riyadh on Jan. 31.
He said 16 different teams from all over the Kingdom and the Gulf states will compete for the championship trophy. The matches will be held in Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam before they move to Bahrain and onward to Dubai. The details of the tournament will be released next week.
Asked about the venue of the ice hockey tournament, Ritz mentioned the skating rink atop the Tamimi Supermarket on King Abdul Aziz Road near the junction with Al-Arouba Street.
The skating rink is covered with artificial ice and can accommodate limited action of five players against five. However, the size of the teams will be normal in the fixtures to be held in Dammam and Jeddah. Entry is open to all expatriates who have experience of playing ice hockey.
Ritz said an Olympic-sized ice hall, now under construction in Jeddah, should be finished by mid-2003 as part of the Youth Welfare Presidency’s plan to initiate Saudi youths into ice skating.
Pointing out that the community involvement of Power Horse is multifaceted, Ritz said its sponsorship of events covers the whole gamut of cultural and sporting events as well as educational exhibition and other youth-oriented programs conducted by government agencies in the Kingdom.
"Investment in the youth through programs with social values could bring about far-reaching results," he added.
