RIYADH: Al-Ittihad leapfrogged Al-Ahli to claim top spot in the Saudi Pro League after a 4-1 win over Al-Khaleej on Friday night, with the reigning champions still to play on Saturday.

The visitors shocked the home crowd by taking a fifth-minute lead thanks to Khaled Narey, which they held until half-time.

But after the break Al-Ittihad rediscovered the form that saw them beat Al-Wehda 7-1 two weeks ago and scored four times in a dominant second half performance.

Karim Benzem kick-started the comeback four minutes after the break and there were further goals from Houssem Amour (56), Steven Bergwijn (68) and Hamed Al-Ghamdi (stoppage time).

The Jeddah club, champions two seasons ago, now sit top of the SPL standings with 12 points from five matches but will drop to second if Al-Hilal — with a perfect record after four matches — get at least a draw against Al-Kholood at home on Saturday night.

Meanwhile Al-Nassr managed to record their second win in a row for the first time this season when they beat Al-Wehda 2-0 in Riyadh. Angelo Gabriel opened the scoring on 41 minutes before Cristiano Ronaldo wrapped up the win with a penalty in the 56th minute. Al-Nassr now sit in third place with 11 points.

In Friday’s other match, a difficult week for Al-Ahli — which saw them suffer a shock exit in the King’s Cup — got worse. They lost 1-0 at the hands of newly promoted Al-Qadsiah, thanks to a Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang penalty on 43 minutes, his first SPL goal for the Aramco-owned club.

Riyadh: As anticipation mounts for the third Saudi Games, organizers promised a grander and more inclusive event than ever before. Officials speaking to Arab News behind the scenes said the event will build on the successes of previous years to showcase an impressive array of sports, greater participation, and an innovative fan experience.

This year’s Games, running in Riyadh from Oct. 3 to 17, will feature a record 52 sports, an increase from the 45 featured in the inaugural event. Overall participation will increase by 30 percent, organizers added, reflecting a significant rise in athlete engagement and public interest.

Mohammed Al-Salem, the head of sports management for the Saudi Games, said the increase in participation among women and youths is particularly notable.

“From our side, we are trying to make the best preparations possible,” he said. “So we are in direct communication with all the sports federations, with all the venues, with all the athletes.

“Last year, we had nearly 30 events specifically for women; now we have more than 50 because that directly contributes to the goals of the Games.”

This expansion highlights the commitment of organizers to the principles of inclusivity and gender equality, he added

“We have seen an increase (in youth participation) from last year,” Al-Salem said, adding that the young athletes will compete in 15 sports, compared with only five last year.

The Games experience will also be bigger and better for spectators, with the fan zone, strategically located in the vibrant Boulevard area, promising to be a highlight. Fan zone manager Hanan Al-Zaid said it will feature competitions in four dynamic sports: beach volleyball, 3x3 basketball, skateboarding and wall climbing.

“The Saudi Games have a history of two successful editions,” she said. “So this year we are becoming bigger and better. As you know, it’s now 52 sports and four of them are in the fan zone.”

This approach is part of a broader strategy to make sports more relatable and accessible through an immersive experience for fans that aims to spark interest and foster deeper connection with the sports community.

“We chose the Boulevard to increase the sports awareness,” said Al-Zaid. “We’re meeting the fans where they are. If you’re attending the Boulevard as a normal guest and you see a game, then you develop an interest in the beginning, then you develop a passion. After that you develop a profession, then you choose this as a career.”

Abdullah Al-Azzam, project manager for the Games, emphasized the sheer scale and complexity of organizing such a significant event.

“We’re talking about the largest sports event in the Kingdom,” he said. “So the preparation is up to speed. We’re doing it on a yearly basis. It is a challenge. However, we’re up to the challenge and we have overachieved that challenge by making the third edition right now.”

The increased focus on young athletes demonstrates the commitment of the Games to nurturing emerging talent, he added.

Tickets for the games are now on sale, and Al-Azzam encouraged fans to guarantee their place in the crowd so that they can witness the excitement firsthand.

“We have amazing athletes,” he said. “We have opportunities for everyone. It’s about competing, and trying, and getting on the podium. People will visit so they can enjoy it and watch their family members compete on the field of play.”