"Belgian sports companies hope to cash in on this relatively growing industry in Saudi Arabia," Belgian Ambassador Marck Vinck told Arab News on Wednesday.

The envoy said that in the coming months the two countries would work on a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on cooperation in the rapidly developing field of sports and events.

Vinck said that the delegation found that sports activities are very much on the health agenda of the Kingdom and that the Saudi leadership is keen to invest in them in a very concrete way.

"We are ready to support the Kingdom's initiative with Belgian expertise in business or in the promotion and development of sports in educational, competitive and Olympic levels," Vinck said.

He added that the members met with Saudi authorities as well as local counterparts and discussed possible collaboration in the sports sector. "The delegation discussed possible close partnership in sports-related activities in at least three areas," Vinck said.

These include football and related activities like stadium construction, training and athlete exchanges between the two countries; cycling, in which Belgium is currently organizing a tour in Doha; and equestrian in which Saudi athletes are now training in Belgium. He said that in connection with football, the delegation visited the King Fahd and Malaz stadiums.

"In both stadiums, they were welcomed and shown around by Salman Al-Namshan, general manager of King Fahd International Stadium. Earlier, they also visited the Shabab Club and received by its President Khaled Al-Baltan and Michel Preud'homme, a Belgian coach and club trainer.

The Belgian ambassador also hosted a Belgian Business Club in his residence. Princess Moneerah, founder and CEO of the Horse Authority, and 130 others attended the event.

Mohamed Al-Garnas, assistant deputy president for sports affairs of the General presidency of youth welfare, conveyed a message from Prince Nawaf bin Faisal, general president of youth welfare, for a closer partnership between the Kingdom and Belgium.

"I and Peter Demuynck welcomed indeed Prince Nawaf's message," Vinck added.