Saudi Sports for All Federation presents rise in physical activity in London

The Saudi Sports for All Federation is taking part in London Leaders Week, where it is presenting the rise in physical activity. At the 2026 edition, held on October 7 and 8 at Stamford Bridge in London, executive director Shima Al-Husseini set out how participation has changed in the Kingdom. The event brought together sports leaders and experts from around the world.

Physical activity rates rose from 13% in 2018 to 48.2% in 2022, as part of Saudi Vision 2030 and efforts to encourage people to be more active. The Federation also highlighted the growth of the Riyadh Marathon, which now has more than 50,000 participants.

“Our goal is for physical activity to become a natural part of daily life, rather than an activity that individuals have to set aside a particular time for,” Al-Husseini said. She added that this requires understanding what encourages people to be active, what may hold them back and how to offer opportunities that fit into everyday routines.

London Leaders Week featured more than 65 speakers, alongside hundreds of participants from sports-sector decision-making bodies. The Federation also relies on a network of partners, including ASICS, Majid Al Futtaim and sports federations, to help strengthen participation.