In a grand and festive atmosphere, His Royal Highness Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki bin Faisal, Minister of Sport and President of the Saudi Arabian Olympic and Paralympic Committee, attended the opening ceremony of the 25th Winter Olympic Games, "Milan-Cortina 2026." Italian President Sergio Mattarella officially opened the Games from the historic San Siro stadium in Milan, in the presence of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and a host of world leaders and prominent figures from the international sports community.
High-level Saudi presence
His Royal Highness the Minister of Sport was accompanied by a high-level official delegation, including the Vice President of the Saudi Arabian Olympic and Paralympic Committee, Prince Fahd bin Jalawi bin Abdulaziz bin Musaed, the Ambassador of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques to Italy, Prince Faisal bin Sattam bin Abdulaziz, and Board Member Adhwa bint Abdulrahman Al-Arifi. This presence reflects the great attention the wise leadership pays to the sports sector and the Kingdom's keenness to have an active presence in major international events, in line with the objectives of the Kingdom's Vision 2030, which has established sports as a fundamental pillar of quality of life and soft power.
Rakan Ali Reza raises the Saudi flag
In a historic moment embodying the development of winter sports in the Kingdom, Saudi cross-country skier Rakan Ali Reza had the honor of carrying the Saudi flag during the parade of participating nations. Reza expressed his immense pride in this task, describing it as a dream for every athlete, and affirming his determination to present a distinguished image reflecting the rapid progress of Saudi sports, especially as the Kingdom prepares to host the Asian Winter Games in Trognia in 2029.
Strategic dimensions and international discussions
On the sidelines of the global event, Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki held an important meeting with the Vice President of the International Olympic Committee, Gerardo Werthen, at his residence in Milan. The meeting addressed ways to strengthen the strategic partnership between the Kingdom and the International Olympic Committee, and discussed enhancing Saudi Arabia's role in supporting global Olympic initiatives. These diplomatic efforts in sports reinforce the Kingdom's position as a global sporting destination and a trusted partner in international sports decision-making.
Cultural heritage and global competition
The opening ceremony featured dazzling artistic and musical performances that blended Italy's rich cultural heritage with the spirit of the modern age, marking the start of competitions involving more than 2,900 athletes representing over 90 National Olympic Committees. The athletes will compete in 16 winter sports within an intensive program of more than 100 medal events, making this edition one of the most competitive in the history of the Winter Games.
