TMW
Romy GaiChief Business Officer FIFA, spoke on the occasion of SFS Football Summit currently taking place in RIyadh: “Saudi Arabia is an increasingly protagonist destination for major events, before the World Cup it will host many events starting with the Asian Cup. F1 is now a constant presence, I believe that Saudi Arabia is increasingly becoming a key destination for hosting global sporting events, as part of Vision 2030 which aims to showcase the beauty of the country to the rest of the world. The key to success in this process is to understand the differences that exist between local and Western culture”.
What role can football have in globalization progress?“It is central, it is the only global language we have. I can testify to this, football is part of the culture of any country in the world: everyone feels it, everywhere. Here it is felt in a particular way, the championship has been enriched with many stars like Ronaldo or Neymar: it’s a natural destination, the passion for football goes back decades.”
The strategic priorities in relations between Italy and Saudi Arabia?“We must remember that the Italian Super Cup was the first official event brought to this country, the first foreign trophy in Saudi Arabia. The mutual interest has been confirmed for years, just look at how many fans come every year to watch the matches of the Italian clubs: there is a lot of passion, and we will see it tonight with the stadium sold out. And I would not like to forget the many steps forward made by the local football federation and government regarding women’s football.”