Who’s Who: Ahmad bin Askar, chief communication officer at the Sports Boulevard Foundation

Ahmad bin Askar
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Updated 10 June 2023
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Who’s Who: Ahmad bin Askar, chief communication officer at the Sports Boulevard Foundation

Ahmad bin Askar has been the chief communication officer at the Sports Boulevard Foundation since 2021. Bin Askar was previously the foundation’s senior vice president of marketing.
He has also been a member of the advisory board for the College of Business Administration at Prince Sultan University since 2020.
In his current role, Bin Askar is central to the foundation’s goal of making Riyadh an international hub for sports and well-being and encouraging the people of Riyadh to participate in sports.
Bin Askar has activated several successful initiatives and campaigns at the Sports Boulevard Foundation, most recently the piloting of the communications roll-out of the Sports Boulevard Design Code that will be implemented in Riyadh.
Bin Askar has over a decade of experience in innovative strategic communications and branding. In 2017, he was appointed marketing director at the Saudi Customs Authority. During this time, he led communication campaigns, events, and branding and digital marketing assignments.
Prior to that, Bin Askar was the marketing and PR manager for Volkswagen Group Saudi Arabia from 2013 until 2017.
Bin Askar holds a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Prince Sultan University, a nanodegree in digital marketing from Udacity, California, and certifications in brand management and advanced leadership, including a certificate in creativity from Cannes Lions School.

 


Sporting symphony: French Embassy hosts Olympic-themed concert

Updated 6 sec ago
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Sporting symphony: French Embassy hosts Olympic-themed concert

  • Program captures ‘spirit of the Olympic Games,’ conductor Zahia Ziouani says
  • Fusion of music, sport creates ‘amazing show,’ French ambassador says

RIYADH: In recognition of the upcoming Olympic Games in Paris, the French Embassy and Alliance Francaise in Saudi Arabia recently hosted a special performance fusing symphonic music and sport.

Held at the Cultural Palace in Riyadh’s diplomatic quarter, the show, titled “Rhapsodie Sportive” was the idea of Zahia Ziouani and featured the Divertimento Orchestra, which she set up in 1998.

The French Algerian conductor said she wanted to show that classical music was still relevant.

“I feel so passionate about the music and the will to be with the audience and to make it possible for the audience to see that classical music is not music from the past, but we can associate modern and contemporary ways of dance and music,” she told Arab News.

“I want to be very creative on stand and I’m very happy to conduct my orchestra. It has always been a dream for me and now I get to do that.”

She said she was also delighted to be given the opportunity to perform in the Kingdom.

“This program is about the spirit of the Olympic Games and to mix music and sports … to be here in Riyadh is a very big symbol and I’m very proud of this.”

French Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Ludovic Pouille, who will step down later this year, introduced the event.

“I am very happy because this was an amazing show,” he said. “Mixing classical music, a French orchestra and French dancers and athletes representing all types of sports, just a few weeks before the Olympic Games in Paris.

“I have to say I was so impressed by the hospitality of the Saudi people and the enthusiasm (we got) from all the events we have organized. There is a cultural dialogue between France and Saudi Arabia. The opening up of Saudi Arabia is very important, not just for the country, but the world.”

Fencing, boxing, tennis, BMX and breaking all featured in the show, performed against symphonic music from France, Spain, UK, US and around the world.


Saudi FM discusses Gaza on sidelines of European Council on Foreign Relations meeting

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan meets with Sigrid Kaag (top) and Josep Borrell (bottom) in Madrid on Thursday.
Updated 12 min 13 sec ago
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Saudi FM discusses Gaza on sidelines of European Council on Foreign Relations meeting

  • Kingdom’s foreign minister had met with the high representative of the European Union for foreign affairs and security policy Josep Borrell earlier on Thursday

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan met with the UN Senior Humanitarian and Reconstruction Coordinator for Gaza Sigrid Kaag in Madrid on Thursday.

The meeting, held on the sidelines of the annual meeting of the European Council on Foreign Relations, discussed the importance of delivering adequate and sustainable humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip.

Prince Faisal and Kaag also discussed the necessity of reaching a ceasefire to stop the worsening humanitarian situation in the territory.

The Kingdom’s foreign minister had met with the high representative of the European Union for foreign affairs and security policy Josep Borrell earlier on in the day.

During their meeting, the two officials reviewed Saudi-EU relations and ways to strengthen and develop them in areas of common interest.

Regional and international developments, including the situation in the Gaza Strip and efforts made in this regard, were also discussed during the meeting


Royal Institute of Traditional Arts participates in Esports World Cup

Updated 9 min 52 sec ago
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Royal Institute of Traditional Arts participates in Esports World Cup

  • Through its interactive pavilion, visitors can enjoy unique experiences related to sports, entertainment, education and culture

RIYADH: The Royal Institute of Traditional Arts is participating in the Esports World Cup, an international eight-week event held from July 3 to Aug. 25 for the first time in Riyadh.

Through its interactive pavilion, visitors can enjoy unique experiences related to sports, entertainment, education and culture.

The pavilion presents traditional arts in pixel format — first used in electronic video games — through interactive art exhibitions and visual and educational content in Arabic and English, allowing visitors to both create their own artworks and learn more about traditional Saudi arts.


Praise for Justice Ministry’s online services to reduce court visits

Updated 50 min 17 sec ago
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Praise for Justice Ministry’s online services to reduce court visits

  • Will save time and money, says Dr. Osama Ghanem Al-Obaidy
  • Najiz.sa platform provides more than 160 e-services

RIYADH: The Ministry of Justice’s new service that allows litigants to proceed with their cases without attending court has been praised by a local law expert.

Dr. Osama Ghanem Al-Obaidy, advisor and law professor at the Institute of Public Administration in Riyadh, told Arab News on Thursday the new online facility is a part of the ministry’s drive to digitize services.

“This is aimed at saving time, money and the effort of litigants by eliminating the need for in-person visits to the courts,” he said.

The ministry announced the new service on Tuesday. “This initiative is part of the ministry’s ongoing efforts to streamline its legal services through digitalization,” it stated.

The Najiz.sa platform provides more than 160 e-services. In December, the ministry unveiled an online notification service for financial claims.

It enables creditors to issue official notices directly to debtors, stating the amounts due and specifying payment deadlines.


Bidding opens for ‘Coffee City’ in Baha region

Updated 04 July 2024
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Bidding opens for ‘Coffee City’ in Baha region

  • The aim is to enhance local production by planting 300,000 coffee trees over an area of 5 million square meters.

RIYADH: The Kingdom’s Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture has opened bidding for its “Coffee City” in Baha’s Qalwah governorate, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Thursday.

The aim is to enhance local production by planting 300,000 coffee trees over an area of 5 million square meters.

Businesses seeking to invest should submit their bids through the Furas platform by Sept. 9.