Five sports and one destination: The NEOM Beach Games are back
Let the games begin…
It’s confirmed. NEOM has announced the second edition of the NEOM Beach Games, which will see more than 800 athletes worldwide compete in a series of leading global sports events.
The five-week competition will kick off on Saturday October 21, and feature five dynamic sports: Super League Triathlon NEOM, NEOM Beach Soccer Cup, NEOM FIBA 3×3 Challenger 2023, NEOM Titan Desert Saudi Arabia, and NEOM IFSC (International Federation of Sport Climbing) Masters.
Here’s the line-up for the NEOM Beach Games 2023.
October 21: Super League Triathlon NEOM
The Games will commence with the Grand Finale of the short course Super League Triathlon NEOM. A test of pure strength, speed and endurance, the series will see 40 athletes take on the Enduro race format, where the 300-metre swim, four-kilometre bike and 1.6-kilometre run course will be completed three times.
October 25 to 28: NEOM Beach Soccer Cup
Witness an exciting exhibition of beach soccer. Teams from across the world will kick off on the golden sands of NEOM’s Gayal Beach and battle it out over four days to become the 2023 NEOM Beach Soccer Cup champions. Played at a much faster pace than general soccer, this will be an exhibition of speed, style and acrobatic goals sure to wow wide-eyed spectators.
November 2 to 4: NEOM FIBA 3×3 Challenger
One hoop, one half-court and six players. Strap in and get ready to enjoy a basketball game like no other. Electrifying music will accompany the non-stop action as twelve teams from across the world battle it out over two days, with the untouched beaches of NEOM as a backdrop.
November 14 to 17: NEOM Titan Desert Saudi Arabia
The renowned NEOM Titan Desert Saudi Arabia desert mountain bike race will return to the region for the second time. It is four days of adventure, with constant sporting and personal challenges, and will feature 230 male and female riders for a four-stage event covering between 80 and 120 kilometres per stage. An undiscovered terrain, an incredible race for those who have never been there, and an opportunity to ride on tracks that no mountain bike has ever ridden on before.
November 22 to 24: NEOM IFSC Masters
The Games will culminate with the introduction of an international sport climbing event, NEOM IFSC Masters, featuring world champions and Olympians. Brand new to the Games for 2023, this incredible sport-climbing event will challenge athletes to climb their way to victory within the mountainous backdrop of NEOM. Athletes must demonstrate strength, stamina and technique as they are challenged to two days of speed climbing on 49-foot artificial walls, followed by two days of bouldering.
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In addition, this year’s event will also see the introduction of the NEOM Beach Games Volunteers Program. Open to those aged 18 years and over, about 50 volunteers from the NEOM community will help to ensure a smooth and enjoyable event for all spectators and athletes.
Commenting on the second edition of the NEOM Beach Games, Jan Paterson, managing director of Sport at NEOM, said, “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.”
Tune in for the NEOM Beach Games 2023, where hundreds of world-class athletes will compete across stunning natural landscapes. Are you ready?
Images: Social