Saudi Arabia's push to host major international sporting events, a central pillar of its Vision 2030 agenda, has run into security risks. A flagship tennis event scheduled for the capital Riyadh has been postponed as airstrikes by Iran-backed Houthi rebels from Yemen continue.
Saudi Arabia's General Entertainment Authority announced on the 14th that the Six Kings Slam tournament, originally set to open in Riyadh from the 21st to the 24th of this month, has been pushed back about two months to Dec. 27-30, according to AFP.
Organizers said the decision followed a comprehensive assessment of security concerns raised by recent attacks on Saudi Arabia and the resulting difficulties in staging the event.
The Six Kings Slam is an exhibition tournament that invites only six of the world's top men's players to compete for multimillion-dollar prize money, and it has been seen as a symbolic showcase of Saudi Arabia's capital push into the global sports market.
Behind the postponement are attacks targeting civilian facilities. On the 10th of this month, a missile struck the passenger terminal at Riyadh International Airport, killing at least 13 people and injuring about 300. Two days later, on the 12th, a projectile landed near the same terminal, killing one Pakistani national. Airports in Abha in the southwest and Dammam, an industrial hub in the east, were also hit in succession, pushing the cumulative death toll above 20.
The Houthi rebels said airports across Saudi Arabia, except those in the Islamic holy cities of Mecca and Medina, were "not safe" and called on foreign airlines to suspend flights. Some carriers have canceled or rerouted services to Saudi Arabia, adding pressure to air travel and tourism demand.
The fallout is spreading to other sports. The Asian Cup, scheduled to open in Saudi Arabia in January next year, could be pushed back to 2028, some observers say. Asian Football Confederation President Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa left the door open, saying he would not rush a decision but could delay the tournament by a year if necessary.
The Japan Football Association has already announced it will skip the FIFA eWorld Cup, which opens in Jeddah on the 16th of this month, citing safety concerns, and Football Australia said it is closely monitoring the security situation.
Organizers of the Saudi International, an Asian Tour professional golf event scheduled for next month, are also watching the situation closely.
The domestic football league has taken a hit as well. Three Saudi Pro League matches were postponed, including a game involving Al Nassr, the club of football star Cristiano Ronaldo, and some AFC Champions League matches kicked off an hour late because of security checks.