Saudi Arabia’s Sports Boulevard signs agreement to increase inclusion of people with special needs
Saudi Arabia’s Sports Boulevard signs agreement to increase inclusion of people with special needs/node/2363446/saudi-arabia
Saudi Arabia’s Sports Boulevard signs agreement to increase inclusion of people with special needs
Agreement was signed by Jayne McGivern, CEO of Sports Boulevard Foundation, and Hisham Alhaidary, CEO of the Authority for the Care of People with Disabilities. (SPA)
Saudi Arabia’s Sports Boulevard signs agreement to increase inclusion of people with special needs
People with special needs will have access to SBF’s sports and wellbeing facilities
Updated 29 August 2023
Arab News
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Sports Boulevard Foundation (SBF) reached an agreement with the Authority for the Care of People with Disabilities to increase access to sports for people with disabilities in Riyadh, state news agency SPA reported.
Under the agreement, people with special needs will have access to SBF’s sports and wellbeing facilities. SBF will work closely with the authority to explore opportunities for cooperation and share knowledge to achieve best practices for people with disabilities.
Jayne McGivern, CEO of SBF, said the partnership would help create an inclusive society where everyone has equal access to sports facilities.
“The Sports Boulevard will provide sports facilities for the whole of Riyadh to enjoy. We look forward to collaborating on future initiatives that promote accessibility and inclusion.”
Last week, Saudi Arabia approved a law to boost the rights of people with disabilities. Hisham Al-Haidary, CEO of the Authority for the Care of People with Disabilities, said the law aims to improve the quality of services and provide people with disabilities with equal opportunities across all sectors.
Neamaa Mostadama project in Makkah aims to reduces food waste
Shoura Council member Hoda Al-Helaissi told Arab News: “We should work together on the project to combat food waste
Updated 7 sec ago
Tareq Al-Thaqafi
MAKKAH: The Neamaa Mostadama project was inaugurated in Makkah on Wednesday as part of the Hefz Al-Neamaa initiative, and Abdullah Felali, the chairman of its board of directors, told Arab News about the importance of establishing an organization to help preserve food while reducing waste.
He said it was also important to find a mechanism to collect clothes to provide for the needy, and create a volunteer team to help with its distribution.
He said: “We are heading towards creating a clothing center similar to (the) markets so that beneficiaries can visit these centers at the association’s headquarters and take what they need.
“They will be able to obtain what they need throughout the year, and we will thus be a recipient of these pre-owned clothes that are in good shape, and will allow the beneficiaries to take them.
“Worn-out clothes will be sold to clothing companies and the amount we get will be used to serve the expansion of the organization’s community projects.”
Shoura Council member Hoda Al-Helaissi said recently that the amount of food waste in Saudi Arabia was far too high.
She stressed the importance of introducing stricter penalties against bodies and stores that violated the system.
She told Arab News: “We should work together on the project to combat food waste.
“Collective efforts (will) lead towards the success of the food and clothing waste process, in addition to controlling societal behavior in the issue of waste.”
Food waste costs the country in the region of $10.66 billion annually, and Al-Helaissi added: “The Shoura Council … (has) studied several … European models and tried to emulate their positive aspects and apply them.”
She called on supermarkets to “distribute goods that are about to expire, to those in need, instead of letting them spoil.”
She added: “This should also apply to the many large coffee shops scattered all over the Kingdom that dispose of their leftovers such as cakes, croissants, and pastries on a daily basis.
“The poor and needy are not benefiting from these leftovers, which is an issue that must be reflected on.
“The quantities of wasted food are very large, which is annoying. Everyone must work in solidarity to reduce this irresponsible waste. Waste is not a sibling of generosity. Generosity is one thing, and waste is another.”
She pointed out that Saudis are generous people “but let us not reach levels of waste and failure, and (help) preserve food.”
Al-Helaissi indicated that the European system of food preservation first appeared in France, with Italy, Britain, and then Germany following suit.
She added: “We need community awareness and media coverage at all levels to reduce levels of waste, starting with schools.
“Parents must instill in their children the importance of only buying necessities … and for a person to only buy what they need, as well as raising awareness of the harmful effects sugars and fats have on a person’s health.”
Al-Issa condemned on behalf of the MWL the murder that took place in France three days ago
Updated 07 December 2023
Arab News
Riyadh – Secretary-General of the Muslim World League and Chairman of the Association of Muslim Scholars Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa met a French parliamentary delegation at the sub-headquarters of the MWL in Riyadh.
During the meeting, both parties discussed topics of common interest, including MWL initiatives to build bridges and enhance mutual respect between people of different national and religious backgrounds.
One such initiative is “Building Bridges of Understanding Between East and West,” launched by the league at UN headquarters, with the support and participation of international leaders.
Al-Issa condemned on behalf of the MWL the murder that took place in France three days ago, in which a French man pledging allegiance to Daesh killed a German tourist and wounded two others near the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
Mangrove park to be created in Jubail as part of ecology push
‘This partnership is focused on preserving the Kingdom’s unique natural environment’
Updated 07 December 2023
Arab News
RIYADH: A mangrove park in Jubail is set to be created thanks to a new agreement signed by the Saudi Arabian Mining Co., also known as Ma’aden.
The firm inked a memorandum of understanding with the Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu in a move that will support carbon sequestration and biodiversity preservation in Saudi Arabia.
The plan falls in line with the mining company’s commitment to plant 10 million terrestrial trees and 10 million mangroves by 2040, as part of its ambition to be carbon neutral by 2050.
It also aligns with the Saudi Green Initiative’s target to plant 100 million mangroves in Saudi Arabia by 2030, which will offset around 96 million tons of carbon emissions as well as help to stabilize the Kingdom’s coastline ecosystems.
“This partnership is focused on preserving the Kingdom’s unique natural environment,” CEO of Ma’aden Robert Wilt said.
“Mangroves provide one of the most effective natural carbon-capture ecosystems and our ability strategy provides a roadmap towards restoring and enhancing the biodiversity of our coastline, in line with Ma’aden’s vision for sustainable growth in Saudi Arabia,” he added.
Under the agreement, both parties will work hand in hand on research initiatives relating to mangrove planting and ecosystem health.
In addition to this, the two entities will work on developing local community programs which back ecosystem restoration as well as boost environmental awareness.
“Our partnership with Ma’aden will continue to preserve and expand mangrove ecosystems in Jubail, a key feature of our region’s natural environment,” CEO of the Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu Mahmood Al-Theeb explained.
“Together we will develop impactful initiatives that benefit the local community and contribute to the Kingdom’s sustainability objectives,” Al-Theeb added.
Recognizing mangroves as an essential barrier to protect biodiversity in the coastal areas and prevent erosion, the National Center for Vegetation Cover Development and Combating Desertification is implementing an ambitious project to plant over 200 million mangrove trees, said the CEO of the government organization mandated to protect and restore green cover all over Saudi Arabia earlier this week.
Speaking to Arab News during the Saudi Green Initiative Forum held at Expo City on the sidelines of COP28 in Dubai, Khaled bin Abdullah Al-Abdul Qadir said that mangroves were distributed widely in the Gulf region and also in the Red Sea areas of Saudi Arabia and that a massive effort was underway to not only preserve the existing mangroves, but also restore others.
Saudi foreign minister, UN chief discuss situation in Gaza
Updated 07 December 2023
Arab News
RIYADH: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan discussed on Wednesday the situation in Gaza with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, the Kingdom’s Foreign Ministry said.
Guterres called Prince Faisal and they discussed the importance of making more effort to reach an immediate ceasefire.
Israel is waging a ground and air offensive against Hamas in all parts of Gaza, resulting in mass civilian deaths and causing a humanitarian catastrophe.
Three-month cultural calendar is full of surprises that will take you through Kingdom’s culture and heritage
Updated 06 December 2023
Dhai Al-Mutairi
RIYADH: The 2023-2024 Diriyah Season is set to begin on Dec. 12 with a curated three-month calendar of events that combines arts and culture, and live performances and experiences that showcase nearly 600 years of history and heritage.
The season is off to a musically spectacular start with an exceptional lineup of cultural concerts. Tickets for the first cultural concept, featuring the Saudi music legends Rabeh Saqr and Ayed performing in Mayadeen theater, will go on sale on Dec. 10.
Diriyah Season cultural showcase includes immersive art installations and exhibitions, live and theatrical performances, and culinary experiences that celebrate both traditional and contemporary cuisine. (Diriyah Season)
This year’s theme honors Diriyah’s story and celebrates Al-Awja in a rallying call for all Saudis to unite and celebrate their shared culture and identity.
The season will be set in five distinct Diriyah locations: Wadi Safar, which will feature a Diriyah cultural basecamp; the iconic UNESCO World Heritage Site At-Turaif; Bujairi Terrace; the Mayadeen theater; and Diriyah district.
HIGHLIGHTS
• Diriyah Season is set to begin on Dec. 12 and will conclude in March.
• The theater will also host a theatrical equestrian show and cultural concerts.
• For the first time, Bujairi Terrace will feature a themed escape room called ‘Journey to the Future.’
• For more information, check diriyah.sa/season.
The season “blends the old with the new and takes us on a journey of self-discovery as we reconnect with our authentic selves. This is not just entertainment; it’s entertainment with meaning,” said Jerry Inzerillo, CEO of Diriyah Gate Development Authority.
“We want people from all over the world to see 300 years of our music, our food, our tents, our costuming, our storytelling, our poetry, our calligraphy,” Inzerillo said.
Diriyah Season cultural showcase includes immersive art installations and exhibitions, live and theatrical performances, and culinary experiences that celebrate both traditional and contemporary cuisine. (Diriyah Season)
The Diriyah E-Prix championship, immersive art installations and exhibitions, live and theatrical performances, plus culinary experiences that celebrate both traditional and contemporary cuisine, are also planned for the season.
The Culinary Arts Commission of the Ministry of Culture will present Shetana, an outdoor winter-evening Saudi culinary experience, every day for four weeks at the Mayadeen theater. There will be a theatrical equestrian show and cultural concerts at the theater as well.
Ahmad Alnuaisri, Diriyah Company assistant manager of media relations
Bujairi Terrace, the fine dining destination, will include an expanded return of Layali Diriyah, which sees one of Diriyah’s heritage farms transformed into an open-air illuminated wonderland, showcasing the best of local and international contemporary art, design, cuisine, dance, live music, poetry and theatrical performances.
For the first time, Bujairi Terrace will also feature a themed escape room called “Journey to the Future,” which will test players’ escape skills and explore the Kingdom’s historical narratives.
What is special about the Diriyah escape room is that it will carry a cultural aspect and requires reviewing your cultural and historical information to solve the puzzles at hand.
Ahmad Alnuaisri, Diriyah Company assistant manager of media relations
“The themed escape room is a unique experience. It is an activity that requires one to be a quick thinker, and quick at making decisions and solving puzzles,” said Ahmad Alnuaisri, assistant manager of media relations at Diriyah Company.
“What is special about the Diriyah escape room is that it will carry a cultural aspect and requires reviewing your cultural and historical information to solve the puzzles at hand,” he said.
Jerry Inzerillo, Diriyah Gate Development Authority CEO
This season’s events planned for the At-Turaif historic district include poetry pop-ups, workshops, a retrospective, an exhibition, Souq Al-Mawsim, and more.
The At-Turaif retrospective explores and embraces the values of At-Turaif’s continuing influence on the Kingdom while bringing Diriyah’s stories and memories together in a multimedia installation. The “Diriyah Doors” exhibition explores the significance and history of the vividly colored, intricately patterned and engraved doors in Diriyah and Najd.
We want people from all over the world to see 300 years of our music, our food, our tents, our costuming, our storytelling, our poetry, our calligraphy.
Jerry Inzerillo, Diriyah Gate Development Authority CEO
The season, which ends in March, is predicted to strengthen the Kingdom’s tourism sector by bringing in both local and international visitors and generating 178,000 jobs for young Saudis.
“Even though we’re a 2030 project, we opened assets in 2022 including our UNESCO site … we’ve already had 1 million visits,” Inzerillo said.
“And now the numbers are growing, and we’ll have a million people that will visit us … until Ramadan when this Diriyah season concludes,” he said.
The 2023-2024 Diriyah Season is presented by Diriyah Company in partnership with Diriyah Gate Development Authority.
