Anthony Joshua’s return adds to Saudi Arabia’s sporting portfolio

Anthony Joshua’s rematch with Oleksandr Usyk has been announced for Saudi Arabia on August 20.

Here, the PA news agency takes a look at the other contests staged in the country.

The inaugural Saudi Arabian Grand Prix took place in December 2021 with a night race in Jeddah, featuring the fastest street circuit in the sport, and returned there in March to even more controversy when a missile strike on an oil refinery 10 miles from the track threatened a walkout by drivers. The event also took place against a backdrop of human rights issues as just days before the country had carried out the mass execution of 81 men.

Joshua has fought in the country before. He reclaimed his heavyweight world titles by defeating Andy Ruiz Jr in the so-called ‘Clash on the Dunes’ in Riyadh in December 2019. The hotly-anticipated rematch followed Amir Khan’s WBC international welterweight victory over Australian Billy Dib in Jeddah in 2019.

Two Italian Super Cup finals have been held in Saudi Arabia. Juventus – thanks to a Cristiano Ronaldo goal – beat AC Milan in Jeddah in January 2019, before they lost 3-1 to Lazio in Riyadh later that year. Real Madrid have won two Spanish Super Cups in Jeddah, the first in 2020 when they beat Atletico and again this year with victory over Athletic Bilbao.

Established in 2019, the Saudi International became the first European Tour event to be played in the country. Rory McIlroy ruled out competing at the 2020 tournament, confirming there was “a morality” behind his decision. Fellow Northern Irishman Graeme McDowell went on to win the event, while Dustin Johnson won the inaugural staging and added another title in 2021. The controversial LIV Golf Series, bankrolled by Saudi Arabian money, touches down in