The deal is the first of its kind signed by the French side with an Olympic committee from the Middle East and the eighth of its kind in the history of the French committee RIYADH: Saudi Arabia and France’s national Olympic committees on Wednesday signed an agreement to enhance bilateral relations, sports and Olympic cooperation between the two sides. For the latest updates, follow us @ArabNewsSport Saudi Minister of Sport Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki bin Faisal, who is also the president of the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee, signed the memorandum of understanding at Al-Janadriyah Square in Riyadh with the President of the French Olympic Committee, David Lappartient. The memorandum, which was signed in the presence of SOPC Vice President Prince Fahd bin Jalawi bin Abdul Aziz and Secretary-General Abdulaziz Baeshen, aims to exchange sports expertise and knowledge, which contributes to the administrative and technical development of the two committees. “I’m very pleased to have signed today a Memorandum of Understanding between the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee and the French National Olympic and Sports Committee alongside my friend Mr. David Lappartient, aiming to strengthen the mutual collaboration between both Olympic families,” Prince Abdulaziz said following the meeting. “Wishing my colleagues at the French Olympic Committee a pleasant stay in the Kingdom,” he added in a post on social media platform X. The deal is the first of its kind signed by the French side with an Olympic committee from the Middle East and the eighth of its kind in the history of the French committee. France is about to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games (Paris 2024) in the summer, which will provide the Saudi team that will be in Paris with the opportunity to learn firsthand about organizing such large sports tournaments. Lappartient said the agreement presents a golden opportunity to establish joint projects, integrate sports into society more broadly, and strengthen bilateral relations between the two sides. He added that the MoU will help further the Kingdom’s objectives to be a global leader in sport and host the biggest events from around the world, as part of Vision 2030. During his visit, Lappartient also attended the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Camel Festival race and expressed his admiration for the successful organization he witnessed.