Tabuk, December 17, 2022, SPA – The 2022 Beach Games, which were recently hosted by NEOM, concluded with the participation of more than 500 athletes from 25 countries, and included a series of beach sports, starting with the GKA Freestyle Kiteboarding World Cup competitions on October 19, followed by Olympic Triathlon competitions, in addition to an international championship for basketball 3x3, and a championship for beach soccer 5x5, which was won by the Brazilian team, the world champion, in both the men's and women's categories. The games concluded the competition on December 9 with the desert cycling race, with the participation of 220 male and female competitors from all around the world, in an event consisting of four stages, with each stage ranging between 80 and 120 kilometers, and the competitions witnessed wide global coverage through broadcast channels in the countries of the participating sports federations. Jean Patterson, Executive Director of the Sports Sector in NEOM, said the NEOM Beach Games 2022 is a milestone, as its success contributes to strengthening NEOM's position as a vital destination for the most important international sports, especially in Triathlon, 3x3 basketball, beach soccer, and mountain biking, which reflects NEOM's role in empowering local talents and promoting them globally. She pointed out the importance of continuous cooperation between NEOM and the national sports federations, which will reflect positively on the development of an integrated national sports system, adding that they look forward to NEOM hosting more international sporting events in the future. Meanwhile, President of the World Beach Soccer Federation, Joan Cusco, expressed his admiration for the great potential that NEOM enjoys and its success in organizing the Beach Games, in an atmosphere characterized by positivity, fun, and the spirit of teamwork, and was a direct reason for its success, reiterating his support for the idea of holding the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup, in NEOM. Beach Soccer Worldwide (BSWW), which is followed by more than 250 million people in 180 countries, concluded its season in Saudi Arabia, presenting 24 exciting matches in NEOM over four days. Also, three of the five sports federations that participated in the Beach Games chose to hold the final events of their sporting events in NEOM, as this reflects the high organizational capabilities that NEOM enjoys in hosting major international sporting events. --SPA 17:05 LOCAL TIME 14:05 GMT 0012 www.spa.gov.sa/w1827802