From the star-studded Pro League to golf, F1 and cricket, the kingdom’s strategy is as cynically ambitious as it is controversial
The scope of Saudi Arabian ambition in global sport is so broad as to be dizzying, but to get a sense of how it works you can look at the history of one of the country’s first investments, in the antics of professional wrestling.
In 2014, Saudi Arabia brought WWE to Riyadh. Held at the Green Halls Stadium and billed simply as a “live event”, the debut wasn’t televised and it aped wrestling contests previously staged in the United Arab Emirates. Fighters such as Roman Reigns, Dolph Ziggler and John Cena contested six bouts in front of a delirious, all-male crowd. “Everyone is truly proud that we’ve visited their city,” said Cena, posing for selfies with dignitaries wearing traditional thawbs. A placard in the crowd read: “I’ve WWEaited for this my whole life!”
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