Jeddah, December 21st – On the sidelines of the FIFA Club World Cup being held in this Saudi city, the Cuban Football Association (AFC) and the Saudi Arabia Football Federation (SAFF) signed a cooperation agreement with the aim of consolidating and further developing a close work relationship, sharing resources and experience, and cooperating bilaterally in this sporting discipline.
The document was signed by the president of the AFC, Oliet Rodriguez Mendez, who heads the island's delegation invited to the World Cup, and the president of the SAFF, Mr. Yasser Al-Misahel.
Last June, a Saudi delegation participated in the Grand Prix I, held in Havana, at the invitation of the Cuban Weightlifting Federation, the Mayor’s Office of Havana, the National Institute of Sports, Physical Education and Recreation (INDER) and the Cuban Olympic Committee (COC). This was a qualifying event for Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
On the other hand, the World Weightlifting Championship and the World Combat Games held in Riyadh last September and October, respectively, had the participation of Cuban delegations in the disciplines of weightlifting and wrestling, both in the men's and women's branches.
Another highlight in this regard, was the meeting held by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Trade and Investment, Ricardo Cabrisas Ruiz, during his working visit to Riyadh from October 5th to 10th, with the Minister of Sports of Saudi Arabia, His Highness Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Saud. On this occasion, the willingness to expand collaboration between the Island and the Kingdom in the sports field was ratified.
Likewise, on October 9th, the president of INDER, Osvaldo Vento Montiller, addressed a letter to his Saudi counterpart, with the purpose of extending the support of the Caribbean authorities to the Kingdom to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup.
All these events confirm the interest of Cuba and Saudi Arabia in expanding cooperation in the field of sports, with the support of their respective highest authorities, given the potential that both parties have to exchange knowledge and experiences. (EmbaCuba Arabia Saudita)