Sports
Saudi Arabia at the Milan Cortina d'Ivoire 2026 Olympics: Participation details and athletes
Learn about the details of Saudi Arabia’s participation in the Milan Cortina d’Italia Winter Olympics 2026, the list of participating athletes Faiq Abdi and Rakan Alireza, and plans to develop winter sports.

In a strategic move reflecting the rapid and qualitative development of the sports sector in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee officially announced the participation of "Team Saudi Arabia" in the "Milan-Cortina 2026" Winter Olympic Games. The Italian Republic will host this major global event from February 6 to 22, 2026, amidst widespread international anticipation.
Consolidating the Saudi presence after the historic appearance
This participation underscores the Kingdom's determination to establish itself on the global winter sports map. This is not its first appearance, but rather a continuation of the Kingdom's historic debut at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics. Participation in Milan is particularly significant as it paves the way and refines Saudi expertise in preparation for major future events, most notably the Kingdom's hosting of the Asian Winter Games in Trogina, NEOM in 2029. This makes the Milan event a crucial preparatory step within a long-term vision.
Supporting leadership and empowering sports talent
These steps are part of the ambitious sports sector strategy, which enjoys the unwavering support of the wise leadership and the close and continuous oversight of His Royal Highness Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal, President of the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee. This support aims to empower Saudi athletes across various sports, both summer and winter, and to provide national talents with opportunities to compete against the world's elite, thereby contributing to raising the level of competitiveness and developing technical performance befitting the Kingdom's stature.
List of "Saudi Arabia's Team" Champions in Milan
The Kingdom will be represented at this Olympic event by an elite group of athletes who have undergone intensive training programs to compete in specialized disciplines that require high physical and technical skills, namely:
- Fayeq Abdi: The star who made history as the first Saudi to participate in the Winter Olympics in the previous Beijing edition, is returning to participate in Alpine Skiing competitions, bringing with him accumulated experience and ambitions to achieve new records.
- Rakan Ali Reza: The new face that reflects the diversity of Saudi talents, as he will be competing in cross country skiing, in a challenge that highlights the Saudi athlete’s ability to adapt and compete in the most difficult climatic and sporting conditions.
Building an integrated system for winter sports
The Saudi team's participation in the Winter Olympics transcends mere honorary participation; it is part of a comprehensive plan to build an integrated system for winter sports in the Kingdom. This sector has witnessed remarkable growth in line with the goals of Vision 2030, including the development of organizational infrastructure, the improvement of physical and technical training programs, and the expansion of the participant base, thus enhancing the Kingdom's chances of competing for titles in the future.
An influential administrative and diplomatic presence
On the international administrative front, Saudi personnel continue to demonstrate their competence, with the prominent role of Hussein Ali Reza, a member of the Saudi national rowing team and a member of the Athletes' Commission of the International Olympic Committee. Hussein actively participated in the important meeting held by the Athletes' Commission at the IOC Executive Board, in the presence of Kirsty Coventry, as part of the final preparations for the Olympics.
The meeting discussed all the logistical and technical arrangements prepared by the organizing committee in Italy to ensure an ideal environment that includes health, psychological and nutritional care for all participants, which confirms the Kingdom’s active role not only in the sports field, but also in international sports decision-making.
Sports
Al-Nasr officially registers David Eviato ahead of the Al-Ittihad match in the Roshan League
Al-Nasr management succeeds in registering professional David Eviato in the local and continental list before the Al-Ittihad classic in the Roshan League, to strengthen the team's ranks after the recent victory over Al-Kholoud.

Al-Nassr FC's management successfully completed the registration of their new professional player, David Eviato, in both the domestic and continental squads, in a race against time before their highly anticipated match against Al-Ittihad. This swift administrative move aims to ensure the team has all its key players ready for the clash between the two giants in the 21st round of the Saudi Professional League, scheduled to be held at Al-Nassr's home ground, "Al-Awwal Park.".
Informed sources within the Riyadh-based club confirmed that officials completed all the necessary procedures to register David Eviato in the past few hours, making him officially eligible to participate in upcoming matches, most notably the crucial game against Al-Ittihad. Al-Nassr's management finalized the signing of Eviato during the last winter transfer window, following successful negotiations and an agreement on all financial and contractual terms, as part of the club's efforts to strengthen its squad and compete for all titles.
The Al-Nassr vs. Al-Ittihad match holds immense importance, transcending its status as a mere three-pointer; it represents the "classic" of Saudi football, attracting a massive following both locally and across the Arab world. Al-Nassr, bolstered by new signings, aims to assert its dominance and extend its winning streak. A victory in such a high-stakes match sends a powerful message to rivals and underscores the team's technical and physical readiness for the crucial stages of the league.
Al-Nassr enters the match with high morale after their recent 1-0 victory over Al-Kholoud, a match that showcased the team's outstanding performance. The winning goal came courtesy of Senegalese star Sadio Mane, who expertly converted a brilliant pass from his Portuguese teammate Joao Felix, demonstrating the excellent cohesion within Al-Nassr's attacking lineup. This is something the club's fans are counting on, along with the anticipated contribution of new signing David Eviato.
The registration of the new player at this sensitive time reflects the administrative professionalism and the strong desire of Al-Nasr’s management to provide all technical options for the coach, to ensure the continuation of the fierce competition for the Roshan League title, especially since the upcoming matches do not allow for a draw in light of the fierce struggle at the top of the standings.
Sports
Nunez sparks controversy after Al-Hilal signs Benzema
Details of Darwin Nunez’s mysterious behavior and his deletion of his picture in Al-Hilal’s shirt after the club announced the signing of Karim Benzema from Al-Ittihad in a sensational deal during the winter transfer window.
Uruguayan star Darwin Núñez sparked widespread controversy in sporting circles and on social media with a surprising and ambiguous move following the announcement of Al-Hilal's signing of French star Karim Benzema during the current winter transfer window. This comes at a time when Saudi football is experiencing significant activity in international transfers, placing every move by top players under intense scrutiny.
In detail, the Uruguayan striker deleted the photo of himself wearing Al-Hilal's jersey from his official social media accounts and replaced it with a black image, a move interpreted as an expression of ambiguity or displeasure. This coincided with Al-Hilal's completion of Benzema's transfer from Al-Ittihad on a free transfer. This action has sparked widespread speculation among fans and analysts about the connection between Benzema's arrival and Núñez's reaction, and whether it relates to a potential rivalry or a failed agreement.
In related news, Al-Hilal officials have finalized the signing of Karim Benzema on a one-and-a-half-year contract, following intensive negotiations that culminated in an agreement on all financial and contractual terms. This deal is considered a major coup in the transfer market, given the immense talent of the French striker, a Ballon d'Or winner, who is expected to significantly bolster Al-Hilal's attack in both domestic and continental competitions.
This activity comes amidst the tremendous development witnessed by the Saudi Professional League, which has become a magnet for the world's top football stars, as part of a strategic vision aimed at raising the league's competitiveness and market value. Such high-profile deals and player transfers between major clubs (like the move from Al-Ittihad to Al-Hilal) underscore the fierce competition and the ongoing desire to strengthen squads with the best available talent to ensure championship victories.
On the field, Al-Hilal's first football team continues its intensive preparations for its upcoming matches, including its clash with Al-Akhdoud in the 21st round of the Roshan Professional League. The highly anticipated match is scheduled to take place at Prince Hathloul bin Abdulaziz Sports City Stadium, where Al-Hilal aims to extend its winning streak and strengthen its position in the league standings, capitalizing on the morale boost that the team's new signings may provide.
Sports
Buckingham: Damac goalkeeper denied Al-Kholoud victory in the Roshan League
Al-Kholoud coach Des Buckingham stated that the brilliance of Damac's goalkeeper deprived his team of points in the 20th round of the Roshan League, praising his players' performance and their superiority in the second half.
Des Buckingham, the technical director of Al-Kholoud's first football team, expressed his relative satisfaction with the technical level shown by his players, mixed with regret over losing two valuable points, after his team's match against Damac ended in a draw, in the match that brought them together on Tuesday evening as part of the competitions of the twentieth round of the Saudi Professional League.
Speaking at the post-match press conference, Buckingham highlighted the key factor that prevented his team from securing all three points, directly praising the heroic performance of Damac's goalkeeper. The coach emphasized that the goalkeeper was an impenetrable barrier against Al-Kholoud's repeated attacking attempts, denying them a victory that seemed within their grasp and thus costing them the chance to improve their position in the league standings.
In his analysis of the match, the Al-Khulood coach added that his team delivered an outstanding second half, both tactically and physically. The players successfully created numerous scoring opportunities and reached the opponent's goal on several occasions. He explained that the lack of a final touch and the opposing goalkeeper's brilliance were the main reasons for the match ending in a draw. At the same time, he praised the fighting spirit displayed by his players and their clear desire to win until the final whistle.
This match takes on particular importance given the two teams' positions in the Roshan League standings. The competition is fierce, not only at the top but also in the middle and relegation zones. Matches between teams closely matched in points are considered "six-point" encounters, where a win directly impacts their chances of staying up and improving their position, which explains the coach's disappointment at missing out on victory.
This statement reflects the immense pressure faced by coaches in the Saudi League, which has become a global focus due to its rapid development and its attraction of top players and coaches, making every point crucial in the final standings. The ability to capitalize on scoring opportunities is a decisive factor in determining the fate of teams as the final third of the season approaches.
It is worth noting that the draw raised Al-Kholoud's points to (16), thus occupying the fourteenth position in the standings, maintaining the four-point difference that separates it from its competitor in this match, Damac, which comes in the fifteenth position, which keeps the struggle open and heated between the two teams to move away from the danger zones in the coming rounds.
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