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The profitable, multi-year deal is the most recent skilled sporting occasion acquisition by the state in recent times.
The season-ending Ladies's Tennis Affiliation (WTA) Finals shall be held within the Saudi Arabian capital Riyadh from 2024-2026, the tennis physique stated, ending months of hypothesis and marking the Gulf nation's newest entry into the game.
“Having a girls's match of this magnitude and profile is a defining second for tennis in Saudi Arabia. Saudi Sports activities Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Faisal Al Saud stated on Thursday that the WTA Finals has the ability to encourage extra than simply sport, particularly for our younger women and girls.
There was heightened hypothesis that the occasion could possibly be moved to Saudi Arabia after the boys's ATP Tour stated final August that its subsequent Basic Finals can be held in Jeddah from 2023 to 2027.
“The WTA chosen Riyadh after a complete evaluation course of spanning a number of months, which included evaluating a number of bids from totally different areas and interesting with gamers,” it stated in an announcement.
Saudi Arabia has invested closely in sports activities resembling soccer, golf and Formulation One auto racing over time, whereas critics accuse the dominion of utilizing its public funding funds to “sportswash” its human rights file.
The nation denies allegations of human rights abuses and says it protects its nationwide safety by means of its legal guidelines.
The brand new three-year deal will enhance prize cash for this November's season-ending championship to a file $15.25 million, a 70 % enhance from 2023.