LONDON: The NEOM Beach Games event has got underway with athletes from around the world set to compete in the sports of triathlon, beach soccer, 3x3 basketball, biking, and climbingThe meeting commenced on Saturday with the grand finale of the Super League Triathlon NEOM followed by a NEOM Beach Soccer Cup competition. After the completion of the triathlon and beach soccer, a three-day international FIBA 3x3 Challenger basketball competition will be held. The Titan Desert Saudi Arabia desert bike race will return for the second time on Nov. 14, featuring 230 male and female riders for a four-stage event, covering between 80 and 120 kilometers per stage. The Games will culminate with the introduction of an international sport climbing event, NEOM IFSC Masters, featuring world champions and Olympians, from Nov. 22 to 24. Jan Paterson, managing director of sport at NEOM, said: “We are excited once again to be hosting the NEOM Beach Games, and it is a privilege to work with national federations and international rights-holders as we aspire to be a natural home for global sports events. “The inclusion of the International Federation of Sport Climbing in this year’s Games is exciting, aligning with our goals to build a high-performance culture and inspire the next generations of athletes across the Kingdom.” This year’s event will see the introduction of the Beach Games Volunteers Program, with 50 volunteers aged 18 years and older from the NEOM community, “helping to ensure a smooth and enjoyable event for all spectators and athletes,” organizers said.