The 9th TAFISA World Sport for All Games will be held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in 2028!

In 2028, Riyadh will welcome 1,000 Sport for All amateurs from 100 countries and 70,000 participants and visitors to the 9th TAFISA World Sport for All Games! TAFISA and Saudi Sports for All Federation are proud to announce that the 9th TAFISA World Sport for All Games 2028 will take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, following the election of the Saudi Sports for All Federation (SFA) as host by the TAFISA General Assembly. This will be the first time the event takes place in the MENA region.

Organised every 4 years, the TAFISA World Sport for All Games are a celebration of both Traditional Sports and Games and new sports, contributing to their safeguarding, promotion, and development. For one week, delegations of amateurs, volunteers, and international sport organisations will showcase their sports and disciplines through demonstrations and performances while engaging the public to play and be part of the event. The TAFISA Games in Riyadh, will welcome over 1,000 delegation members from 100 countries along with 70,000 participants and visitors in a spectacular display of colour, dance, sports, culture, peace, friendship, and fun. 

The contract has been signed in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on 13 March 2023, in the presence of

• Mr Wolfgang Baumann, TAFISA President
• HRH Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed, Saudi Sports for All Federation President
• HE Bader AlKadi, Vice Minister of Sports, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,
• HE Fahd Al-Rasheed, CEO of the Royal Commission of Riyadh City 
   

Building a lasting legacy

The 9th TAFISA World Sport for All Games in Riyadh follow the principles of TAFISA Mission 2030 “For a Better World through Sport for All”, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, and the Saudi Sports for All Federation's strategy to increase physical activity in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Existing facilities and open spaces in Riyadh will welcome the event and further encourage their long-term use by citizens for their daily Sport for All and physical activity needs. The Host will develop a sustainability strategy to ensure the TAFISA Games are environmentally friendly. 

Beyond the event itself, the TAFISA Games are fully embedded in a long-term strategic cooperation between TAFISA and Saudi Sports for All Federation to create a better world and increase participation in Sport for All and physical activity in the Kingdom. This partnership has developed over the years through various collaborative initiatives, notably:

• Certified Leadership Courses in Sport for All hosted by SFA to build the capacity of some 80 men and women every year, developing a base of Sport for All volunteers and professionals who will contribute to making the event a success and sustain the Kingdom’s efforts to promote Sport for All well After the TAFISA Games.
•  Made to Play Coaching Girls Guide and Made to Play Hijab Playbook workshops which have also empowered coaches to better adapt to the needs of girls and women and enhance their opportunities to be physically active, ultimately increasing their participation rate.
•  Active City Capacity Building Workshop co-hosted with the Royal Commission for Riyadh City (RCRC) paving the way for Riyadh to establish an Active City strategy according to international standards.

The TAFISA Games represent a highlight of this strategic cooperation and are set to bring various benefits to the local population. By welcoming participants from around the world, the event will create economic opportunities through tourism and related industries, but also foster cultural exchange and understanding. The Saudi Sports for All Federation (SFA) and Royal Commission for Riyadh City (RCRC) will strive to build a positive legacy for the citizens of Saudi Arabia by developing new opportunities to be physically active in the everyday life. 

The work performed by SFA in Sport for All has led to major achievements in recent years, with physical activity participation rates tripling for men between 2018 and today (from 16.73% to 51.98%) and more than doubling for women during the same period (from 16.03% to 40.42%). The number of Community Sports Groups in the Kingdom also grew exponentially, from less than 50 five years ago to over 1,735 today. The TAFISA Games will showcase Saudi Arabia as a hub for sports and physical activity in the MENA region, demonstrating the country's commitment to promoting sports and healthy living.

An event open to all

The 9th TAFISA World Sport for All Games in Riyadh are open to all. In accordance with the United Nations Guiding Principles for Business and Human Rights (UNGP), TAFISA and SFA are dedicated to upholding human rights standards and promoting inclusivity and diversity. Through the event, they will promote physical activity, grassroots sport, leisure activity, traditional sports and games, new sports, exercise, sport and physical play for all individuals regardless of any characteristics, by operating in conformity with and promoting the principles of diversity, inclusion and gender equity. 

Everyone is invited to join the 9th TAFISA World Sport for All Games in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in 2028.

More information:

• About SFA
• About Saudi Vision 2030
• TAFISA World Sport for All Games

Contacts

TAFISA: Gaëtan Garcia, Head of Operations – garcia@tafisa.org
SFA: sfa@sfa.sa