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

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. 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. 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. 0:00 Intro 3:31 Building Saudi Arabia into an Olympic Competitor 6:30 The Biggest Challenge in Developing Saudi Sports 9:41 Inside Saudi Arabia’s Elite Training Centers 12:37 Discovering Saudi Talent the Athlete Scholarship Program17:42 Building a Nationwide Network of Training Centers 21:44 Building Saudi Arabia’s Olympic Talent Pipeline 23:06 Which Sports Could Win Saudi Arabia Olympic Medals? 27:18 What Saudi Arabia Can Learn from Olympic Powerhouses32:23 What Saudi Sports Still Needs to Improve3 4:53 How Young Should Children Start Playing Sports? 38:46 How Saudi Sports Federations Are Funded 42:13 Planning for Los Angeles, Brisbane Beyond 44:27 Saudi Arabia’s Road to the 2034 Asian Games 49:11 The Rise of Women’s Sports in Saudi Arabia 53:07 Why Saudi Arabia Invests So Heavily in Sports 57:09 Why Competing Against Asia Makes Saudi Arabia Stronger58:08 Leadership Lessons from Saudi Sports 1:00:42 The Legacy Abdulaziz Baeshen Wants to Leave 1:02:13 Closing Thoughts