The Strategy Behind Saudi Arabia’s Push for Olympic Medals | Abdulaziz Baeshen

<p>Abdulaziz is the CEO and Secretary General of the Saudi Olympic Paralympic Committee, and one of the key figures shaping the Kingdom’s sporting future. With a career spanning leadership roles at the Ministry of Sport, Saudi Sports Company, the Saudi Sailing Federation and Saudi Esports Federation, Abdulaziz brings a unique perspective on how Saudi sport has evolved and where it is heading next.</p><p></p><p></p><p>The conversation explores what it really takes to build Olympic champions from grassroots participation, scholarships and elite training centers to selecting podium-potential sports, funding federations and making difficult decisions around athletes and resources.</p><p></p><p>They also discuss the rapid rise of Saudi women in sport, why Abdulaziz believes the Kingdom’s first Olympic gold could come from a female athlete, the integration of Olympic and Paralympic sport, naturalization and international talent, the future of the Saudi Games, and the long-term road toward Riyadh 2034. It’s a conversation about ambition, patience, leadership and what it takes to build a sporting nation capable of competing with the best in the world.</p><p></p><p>0:00 Intro</p><p>3:31 Building Saudi Arabia into an Olympic Competitor</p><p>6:30 The Biggest Challenge in Developing Saudi Sports</p><p>9:41 Inside Saudi Arabia’s Elite Training Centers</p><p>12:37 Discovering Saudi Talent the Athlete Scholarship Program17:42 Building a Nationwide Network of Training Centers</p><p>21:44 Building Saudi Arabia’s Olympic Talent Pipeline</p><p>23:06 Which Sports Could Win Saudi Arabia Olympic Medals?</p><p>27:18 What Saudi Arabia Can Learn from Olympic Powerhouses32:23 What Saudi Sports Still Needs to Improve3</p><p>4:53 How Young Should Children Start Playing Sports?</p><p>38:46 How Saudi Sports Federations Are Funded</p><p>42:13 Planning for Los Angeles, Brisbane Beyond</p><p>44:27 Saudi Arabia’s Road to the 2034 Asian Games</p><p>49:11 The Rise of Women’s Sports in Saudi Arabia</p><p>53:07 Why Saudi Arabia Invests So Heavily in Sports</p><p>57:09 Why Competing Against Asia Makes Saudi Arabia Stronger58:08 Leadership Lessons from Saudi Sports</p><p>1:00:42 The Legacy Abdulaziz Baeshen Wants to Leave</p><p>1:02:13 Closing Thoughts</p>