DAMMAM: The suicide bombers responsible for the terrorist operations in different regions of the Kingdom over the last two years were aged between 19 and 28 years.

This age group which, according to the Interior Ministry, represents 80 percent of the total population, is the one targeted by terrorist organizations.

The fact that a number of Saudi youth have joined terrorist organizations is a warning bell and a cause for concern. Youth programs must be developed and reconsidered; the programs must serve the youth and provide them with a role for future service. Thus it will be possible to prevent from being brainwashed by the deviants.

The current situation puts a great responsibility on the General Presidency for Youth Welfare (GPYW). Those interested in youth programs must steer young people away from terrorist elements which seek to recruit those who are ready to embrace their terrorist ideology.

In this aspect, the GPYW has exerted many efforts through its affiliated bodies, federations and clubs to provide cultural, literary, social, youth and sports programs and activities in a number of regions and governorates. This has been carried out in coordination with a number of governmental and private bodies working for national solidarity against terrorism.

The GPYW has also launched awareness campaigns and programs aiming to protect young people and define the terrorism threats to the community.

In addition, there is a National Strategy for Youth that was prepared and adopted in the Kingdom in 2010 to be the first step in a systemic approach to improve the position of youth and prepare for their present and future, as young people are an important factor in the various fields of development witnessed by the Kingdom in recent years.

Sports media play a significant role in facing extremist ideology, as many young people imitate the behavior of sports stars and listen to their advice. So, sports celebrities should participate in awareness campaigns to warn young people of terrorist ideology and its threats to the community.

Also, sports clubs can play an important role in the coming years to protect this age group through holding seminars and lectures that fight deviant thought and correct ideas of many young people vulnerable to delinquency, to develop dialogue with young people, discuss the ideas behind the terrorist ideology and invalidate the arguments of terrorists.