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The Sports Ministry unveiled a SAR 1.7 bn package to three sports initiatives for the 2024-2025 season, in a bid to support club development, the ministry said.
Some SAR 1 bn of the total package is earmarked for Saudi Pro League (SPL) clubs:
- Publicly-owned SPL clubs will be granted SAR 47 mn annually, while privately-owned clubs will receive an annual SAR 45 mn;
- All First Division League clubs will receive SAR 6 mn per year;
- Public clubs in the Second Division League will receive SAR 2.8 mn annually, while private clubs will get SAR 2.7 mn.
A SAR 503 mn package will be allocated to support a variety of sports, with funds distributed according to a points system, where each point is valued at SAR 270k. The sports are divided into three categories, with each category assigned a specific number of points based on the activities within each sport. Clubs will receive points corresponding to the sports they actively participate in.
- Category A (96 points): karate, volleyball, handball, strength sports, judo, swimming, and basketball;
- Category B (84 points): Jiu Jitsu, taekwondo, badminton, wrestling, fencing, weight lifting, and gymnastics;
- Category C (56.7 points): bike racing, boxing, tennis, archery, esports and table tennis.
ICYMI– The privatization of sports clubs could reel in some SAR 500 mn in revenues, with 25 local and international firms expressing interest in acquiring stakes in Saudi clubs that are part of the government’s privatization initiative, Sports Minister Abdulaziz Al Faisal was quoted as saying.
