Elite Venues for Every Game

Florida’s Sports Coast boasts some of the finest sports facilities in the region, making it the ideal location for athletes, event organizers, and sports enthusiasts alike. The Wiregrass Ranch Sports Campus of Pasco County in Wesley Chapel stands out as one of the largest and most versatile venues in the area. This cutting-edge sports complex features a 98,000 square-foot indoor facility, plus seven outdoor fields designed to host a range of sports such as soccer, football, rugby, lacrosse, etc. The venue regularly attracts regional and national events, drawing athletes and spectators from all over.

For tennis enthusiasts, Mouratoglou Academy Zephyrhills provides a premier setting for training and competition. This modern facility boasts 15 high-performance tennis courts, featuring both hard and clay surfaces that cater to professional tournaments and training camps. The facility also features five modern padel courts, and 8 inclusive pickleball courts. Known for its pristine surfaces and excellent amenities, the center is a local favorite and hosts numerous community tennis programs and outreach initiatives. Whether you’re competing in a national tournament or enjoying a recreational clinic, this venue offers an ideal environment for all levels of play.

For fans of ice sports, AdventHealth Center Ice in Wesley Chapel is one of Florida’s largest ice sports complexes. Featuring three NHL-standard rinks, one Olympic-standard rink, one junior ice rink, and a 2,000 sq. ft. fitness center, it serves as a hub for competitive ice sports in the region. The venue also regularly hosts regional and national competitions, providing state-of-the-art facilities for training camps and tournaments. It also offers public skating sessions and youth hockey leagues, making it a great destination for family fun and competitive training alike.

Leisure and Adventure: More Than Just Sports

While Florida’s Sports Coast is best known for its sports venues, it’s equally renowned for its outdoor adventure offerings. The region’s natural beauty, combined with its mild climate, makes it the perfect place for nature enthusiasts to explore. Here are just a few of its various leisure offerings.

Werner Boyce Salt Springs State Park in Port Richey offers a serene escape into Florida’s wilderness. Visitors can enjoy kayaking and canoeing along these scenic waterways, surrounded by lush greenery and abundant wildlife. This park provides the ideal setting for a peaceful day of nature exploration with plenty of opportunities to spot native species and enjoy the beauty of Florida’s natural landscape.

For those seeking a unique wildlife experience, Giraffe Ranch in Dade City offers an unforgettable safari-style adventure. This 47-acre ranch provides visitors the opportunity to get up close and personal with exotic animals from around the world, including giraffes, zebras, and ostriches. Guests can enjoy guided tours through its lush, scenic grounds, where they can feed and interact with the animals in a natural, open-air environment. Giraffe Ranch is perfect for wildlife enthusiasts looking for a hands-on experience in a serene, rural setting. With its educational tours and breathtaking views, it’s a mustsee destination for anyone visiting Florida’s Sports Coast.

Adrenaline seekers can head to The Lift Adventure Park at SunWest Park in Hudson, known for its innovative cable wakeboarding system. This one-of-a-kind park pulls riders across a lake, offering an exhilarating experience for wakeboarders of all skill levels. It also features an inflatable obstacle course with a slide, sandy beaches, and picnic areas, making it a fantastic spot to relax after a thrilling session on the water.

A Shopper’s Paradise

After a day of sports or outdoor adventure, Florida’s Sports Coast offers plenty of opportunities for leisure and relaxation. Tampa Premium Outlets in Wesley Chapel is the perfect destination for retail enthusiasts. With over 110 stores offering top brands at discounted prices, it’s a shopper’s paradise. Whether you’re looking for the latest fashion, electronics, or accessories, you’ll find a wide range of luxury and everyday brands to suit your style and budget.

Florida’s Sports Coast: Your All-Access Pass to Play & Explore

Florida’s Sports Coast is the ultimate destination for champions — athletes, business travelers, and active adventurers alike. With top-notch sports venues, stunning outdoor environments, and a wide range of shopping and dining options, this vibrant region seamlessly combines the thrill of competition with the relaxation of leisure. Whether you’re here to compete in a tournament, attend a conference, or simply explore and unwind, Florida’s Sports Coast offers the perfect backdrop for making unforgettable memories. Life’s a Game. Let’s Play!

The decision confirms that the world’s most populous nation will stage the landmark edition of the Games, after delegates of the 74 Commonwealth member nations and territories ratified India’s bid at today’s Commonwealth Sport General Assembly in Glasgow.

India presented a compelling vision for the 2030 Games, centred in the Gujarat city of Amdavad (Ahmedabad), which will build on foundations laid by Glasgow 2026, enabling India to celebrate the centenary in style.

Moments after Amdavad was announced as hosts of the 2030 Commonwealth Games, 20 Garba dancers and 30 Indian dhol drummers burst into the General Assembly Hall, surprising delegates with a rich cultural performance that provided a taste of the heritage and pride that Athletes and fans can expect from a Games hosted in the Indian state of Gujarat.

Garba is a dance that originated in Gujarat and the performance featured members of Glasgow’s Indian community, and those from other parts of the Commonwealth, in a show of both diversity and unity across the Movement to start the journey from the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games to the Centenary edition.

The first Commonwealth Games were held in 1930 in Hamilton, Canada. Australia topped the medal table at the most recent Games, staged in Birmingham, England, in 2022, with the rest of the top five made up of England, Canada, India and New Zealand.

Dr Donald Rukare, President of Commonwealth Sport said: "This is the start of a new golden era for Commonwealth Sport. After a 'Games reset' we head to Glasgow 2026 in fantastic shape to welcome the 74 teams of the Commonwealth before setting our sights on Amdavad 2030 for a special Centenary edition of the Commonwealth Games.

“India brings scale, youth, ambition, rich culture, enormous sporting passion and relevance, and I'm delighted to report strong interest from a range of nations to host the 2034 Games and beyond. We start our next century for the Commonwealth Games in good health."

Dr, PT Usha, President of the Commonwealth Games Association of India said: “We are deeply honoured by the trust shown by Commonwealth Sport. The 2030 Games will not only celebrate a hundred years of the Commonwealth Movement but also lay the foundation for the next century. It will bring together Athletes, communities, and cultures from across the Commonwealth in a spirit of friendship and progress.”

The Sports Programme

In addition to confirming the hosts for 2030, Commonwealth Sport also confirmed that 15 – 17 sports will feature at Amdavad 2030.

The Amdavad 2030 team will work closely with Commonwealth Sport and the International Federation community to shape a dynamic and exciting sport programme with strong local resonance and global appeal.

This will follow Commonwealth Sport’s recently concluded Sport Programme Review which outlines the sports which will feature at the Commonwealth Games: Athletics and Para Athletics, Swimming and Para Swimming, Table Tennis and Para Table Tennis, Bowls and Para Bowls, Weightlifting and Para Powerlifting, Artistic Gymnastics, Netball and Boxing.

The process to finalise the remainder of the programme will start next month, and the full Centenary Games line-up will be announced next year.

The sports under consideration are: Archery, Badminton, 3x3 Basketball and 3x3 Wheelchair Basketball, Beach Volleyball, Cricket T20, Cycling, Diving, Hockey, Judo, Rhythmic Gymnastics, Rugby Sevens, Shooting, Squash, Triathlon and Para Triathlon and Wrestling.

The host can also propose up to two new or traditional sports.

Duncan Scott, multiple Commonwealth Champion swimmer, said: “The Commonwealth Games are a special part of my career. Taking part in a home Games is incredible, so I’m excited for Indian Athletes who’ll get to do that in 2030. And for everyone else we’ve got an opportunity to expand our horizons and experience the ambition and colour of Amdavad and India. I loved the chance to compete in the Gold Coast in Australia as part of a travelling Team Scotland.

“We look forward to handing over the Games to Amdavad in great shape after welcoming all to Glasgow next year.”

Jaismine Lamboria, World Champion boxer from India, said: “It truly is a proud moment to see India become the host of the Centenary Commonwealth Games. Amdavad will give Athletes and fans a very warm and vibrant welcome, and having the opportunity to compete on home soil in 2030 will be a huge motivation for me and for many others. I’m excited for the next decade for Indian sport.”

This year’s event brings together senior leaders from across global sport, culture, government, and major event delivery to explore the theme “Getting on with the Business of Events” – practical look at how cities and organisers are delivering impact, investment and innovation in a changing world.

A world-class speaker programme

The completed programme features influential figures shaping the future of major events, including:

• Uğur Erdener, President, SportAccord; Honorary President, World Archery; Honorary Member, International Olympic Committee
• Sheikha Asmaa Thani Al-Thani, Director of Marketing & International Cooperation Sector, Qatar Olympic Committee
• Basim K. Ibrahim, Sport Sector Director, Ministry of Investment, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
• Harvey Goldsmith CBE, Promoter, Artiste Management Productions Ltd
• Sarah Massey, Managing Director, Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025
• Rob Stull, President, UIPM
• Kay Morrison, Chief Executive, Glasgow Life
• Rob Dickson, Director of Industry and Events, VisitScotland
• Phil Batty OBE, CEO, Glasgow 2026

They are joined by senior representatives from the International Olympic Committee, Commonwealth Sport, Milano Cortina 2026, and many more.

The full final line-up is available at www.hostcity.com.

Speaking ahead of the event, Conference Director Ben Avison said: “We are greatly honoured to welcome such an amazing line up of speakers from all over the world to this must-attend conference in the great city of Glasgow, Scotland.”

Billy Garrett Director of Culture, Tourism and Events at Glasgow Life said: “We’re committed to further enhancing the global reputation that Glasgow and Scotland have built up over many years as expert, trusted and welcoming hosts of events of all types so we maximise the positive economic and social impact to our city and country.

“Partnership working is absolutely vital to achieving that, and Host City provides an important platform for collaboration by bringing together influential industry professionals and decision-makers to share information, insights and ideas. This year’s dynamic programme and inspirational line-up of speakers will, I’m sure, be invaluable in helping us shape and realise our collective vision for world-class events.”

Rob Dickson, Director of Industry and Events at VisitScotland, said: “Events are not only vital for fostering connections and innovation, but they also play a crucial role in strengthening our communities and driving economic growth. Host City 2025 is the ideal platform for delegates from sport, cultural and business events to come together and explore the issues and trends facing the industry. With an outstanding line-up of speakers, we’re set for two days of inspiring conversations and fresh ideas. I look forward to welcoming everyone to Glasgow in just under two weeks.”

Host City is delivered with the support of Global Presenting Partners and Hosts, Glasgow Life and EventScotland, part of VisitScotland.

Media Contact
Ben Avison (ben.avison@hostcity.com)

About Host City

Host City is the event and media brand that connects the owners, hosts and organisers of major events. Through its conference, exhibition, awards and online publishing platforms, Host City shares best practice within the international community of international sports, business and cultural events. Host City events are renowned for the highest level of speakers, content and networking.

About Glasgow Life

Glasgow Life is a charity working for the benefit of the people of Glasgow. We believe everyone deserves a great Glasgow life and we find innovative ways to make this happen across the city’s diverse communities.

Our programmes, experiences and events range from grassroots community activities to large-scale cultural, artistic and sporting events which present Glasgow on an international stage.

Our work is designed to promote inclusion, happiness and health, as well as support the city’s visitor economy, in order to enhance Glasgow’s mental, physical and economic wellbeing.

About EventScotland

EventScotland, part of VisitScotland – the national tourism and events organisation for Scotland, works to make the destination the perfect stage for events by securing and supporting an exciting portfolio of sporting and cultural events. 

It provides funding opportunities and access to resources and information to develop the industry. By raising Scotland’s profile as a leading events destination, we hope to attract more visitors to our shores. 

It supports the delivery of Scotland’s National Events Strategy 2024-2035 which aims to build on the events industry’s many achievements to date. 

The strategy refresh has been shaped by, Scottish Government, VisitScotland’s Industry and Events Directorate, Scotland’s Events Industry Advisory Group (EIAG), Local Authorities, COSLA, Trade Union representatives, and those who responded to the consultation process. 

Find out more about Scotland’s National Events Strategy 2024-2035. 

For further information about funding programmes and latest event news: 

• visit visitscotland.org/events 
• follow @EventScotNews on x.com 
• follow EventScotland on linkedin.com 

[Source: Sports ETA] The U.S.-based Sports Events & Tourism Association (Sports ETA), will lead a historic visit of 16 major U.S. host destinations to meet with global sports federation leaders and event organizers in Lausanne, Switzerland from December 3-5, 2025.

This notable visit marks a significant milestone in the international engagement strategy of Sports ETA—the leading and only trade association representing the U.S. sports tourism industry—ahead of a series of global sports events coming to the United States, including the FIFA World Cup 26 and the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The delegation will connect with international sports federations and organizations headquartered in Lausanne, widely recognized as the Olympic Capital of the world. 

Sports ETA President & CEO John David said: “Leading the first-ever Sports ETA international delegation is a historic step for our organization and 16 of our premier U.S. host destinations. This visit to Lausanne underlines the unprecedented opportunity ahead as the U.S. prepares to host some of the biggest sporting events over the next decade. We look forward to seeing our members strengthen relations with the global sports community and create long-lasting partnerships that will define this new era of sports tourism.”

The visiting delegation includes representatives from Baltimore, Maryland; Boston, Massachusetts; Cleveland, Ohio; Columbus, Ohio; Detroit, Michigan; Las Vegas, Nevada; Miami, Florida; New Orleans, Louisiana; Phoenix, Arizona; Portland, Oregon; Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina; Salt Lake City, Utah; Washington, D.C.; and the State of Florida. These destinations are experienced hosts of major sporting events and are eager to welcome even more international competitions.

During the visit, the delegation will host an exclusive reception at the Olympic Museum on December 3, followed by one-on-one networking sessions on December 4, providing International Federation leaders direct access to U.S. destinations eager to support global sporting events.

Sports ETA Chief of International Sports & Strategy Janis Burke said: “Our delegation is looking forward to connecting with International Federations (IFs) and Olympic stakeholders in the Olympic Capital. Our member destinations are experienced sports tourism leaders, and this visit underlines their appetite to strengthen ties with the international sports community and explore future hosting opportunities. We look forward to welcoming IFs and sports organizations to our reception at the Olympic Museum on December 3, followed by one-on-one networking sessions on December 4, providing International Federation leaders direct access to premier U.S. destinations eager to host events.”

Building on the Lausanne visit, Sports ETA will expand its annual Symposium flagship event to include an international component for the first time, from April 20-23, 2026, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Symposium International 2026 will bring together international sports federations, event organizers, and U.S. host destinations to explore partnerships and advance global sports tourism collaboration.

International sports federation representatives and event organizers interested in attending the December 3 reception at the Olympic Museum or the December 4 networking sessions in Lausanne should email Janis Burke at janisburke@sportseta.org. For more information about Sports ETA or Symposium International 2026, visit SportsETA.org.

Under the patronage of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will host the opening of the 6th Islamic Solidarity Games tomorrow, continuing until 21 November, with participation from 57 Islamic countries.

The Islamic Solidarity Games unites the Islamic Solidarity Sports Association’s (ISSA) member National Olympic Committees, providing a platform to celebrate peace and diversity.

The 6^th edition marks a return to Saudi Arabia, where the inaugural Islamic Solidarity Games was held in 2005.

It will feature 3,500 of the best athletes from the 57 competing countries, participating across 23 sports until the Closing Ceremony on 21 November.

Events have already begun in Futsal, Volleyball and Boxing. The other sports on the programme are Athletics, Para Athletics, 3x3 Basketball, Camel Racing, Duathlon, Equestrian, Esports, Fencing, Handball, Judo, Ju-jitsu, Karate, Muay Thai, Para Powerlifting, Swimming, Taekwondo, Table Tennis, Weightlifting, Wrestling and Wushu.

Competition will be staged across four venue clusters, delivering a sustainable hosting model which will inspire future editions of the Islamic Solidarity Games.

Minister of Sport, President of the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee and President of the Islamic Solidarity Sports Association Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki bin Faisal stated, "This royal patronage highlights the importance of joint Islamic action and the support for cooperation among the member states of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. Sport serves as a vital bridge for fostering peace, unity, and understanding."

"We are excited to host over 3,000 athletes competing in more than 22 different sports and are committed to delivering an exceptional event that showcases the Kingdom's organizational capabilities," he added.

The Islamic Solidarity Games are a major event in the Islamic world, fostering fair competition, promoting values of peace and brotherhood, and reinforcing Saudi Arabia's commitment to unity among Islamic nations.

Residents of Munich have backed the city's bid to host the Olympic Games by two thirds, giving the green light to bring the Summer Games to Bavaria in 2036, 2040 or 2044.

A referendum found 66.4 percent of voters supported the measure, which means the city remains in the fight to become the chosen host city of the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB), who look set to bid for the 2036 event. Capital city Berlin is also in contention, alongside Hamburg and the Rhine-Ruhr region - which hosted the 2025 FISU Summer World University Games.

Hamburg and Rhine-Ruhr are expected to follow Munich in hosting local referendums, while Berlin has no plans to do so. Berlin's bid also survived a potential collapse when the city's Sports Minister, Iris Spranger, kept her position following a no-confidence vote in the House of Representatives. This was motioned by the Green Party and The Left, two of the major political parties on the centre-left and left respectively. Spranger, representing the centre-left Social Democratic Party, remains in place after being supported by her party and their coalition partners, the conservative Christian Democratic Union. This vote took place after concerns over correct procedures related to transparency over public funds.

Hamburg had aimed to bid for the 2024 Summer Olympics, which went to Paris, but a referendum found 51.6 percent of the population rejected the proposal.

Munich's referendum was the highest of its kind compared to other sporting questions. 42 percent of the eligible electorate participated, a higher turnout than the previous turnout record of 37.5 percent for the referendum held in 2001 to approve the construction of the Allianz Arena, the future home of football club Bayern Munich.

Munich Mayor, Dieter Reiter, expressed his delight following the result stating: "This result is far more than a yes to the Olympics. It is a yes to bold, sustainable, and inclusive urban development."

In 2013, the city's residents rejected a proposed bid for the 2022 Winter Olympic Games - which would have made it the first city to host the Summer and Winter editions. This was instead won by Beijing, who became the first city to host both.

2036 would be a notable landmark for a German bid - coming 100 years after the Berlin 1936 Olympic Games, which is considered to be a shameful mark in sporting history, hosted under the regime of Nazi Germany. For the Bavarian city, it will also be an opportunity to revisit their past and have a second chance. The Munich 1972 Games are remembered for the kidnapping and murder of 11 Israeli Olympic team members and one police officer by the militant organisation Black September. The decision for the Games to continue afterwards remains controversial today.

While Germany is expected to bid for the 2036 Olympic Games, an official bid will not be launched until the DOSB confirm its candidate city in late 2026. Ahmedabad, India, is the latest city to bid for the event, joining Qatar's capital city Doha, Turkish city Istanbul and Santiago, the capital city of Chile.

[Source: WePlan] As the world prepares to mark 100 days to the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games, a new study highlights the recurring factors that determine the outcome of major-event candidatures.

Based on lessons from Expo 2030 Riyadh and Milano Cortina 2026, the analysis points to five decisive elements in winning bids: governance clarity, narrative coherence, stakeholder unity, operational viability, and alignment with long-term development plans.

The findings are set out in the first edition of the WePlan Knowledge Paper series, a collection of publications that will explore different phases in the lifecycle of mega-events.

A key feature of this first paper is the USP Positioning Framework, a methodology designed to help bidders identify and validate their true differentiators. The framework addresses a common weakness in candidatures: the tendency to present local strengths as unique without testing them against the priorities of rights-holders or the positioning of competitors.

“Candidatures are no longer judged only on ambition or technical capacity. They are evaluated on credibility, sustainability, and alignment with wider strategies,” said Roberto Daneo, co-founder of WePlan. “With this Knowledge Paper we want to contribute to a more disciplined, transparent, and legacy-oriented approach to winning bids.”

Giorgio Re, co-founder of WePlan, added: “Expo 2030 Riyadh and Milano Cortina 2026 provide valuable examples of how vision and delivery capacity can come together. Our Knowledge Paper series is designed to make these lessons available to future bidders and stakeholders.”

About the Knowledge Paper series

The WePlan Knowledge Paper series will cover the full lifecycle of mega-events in four publications:

1. Winning Mega-Event Candidatures (October 2025)
2. Transition and Early Stage Planning (January 2026)
3. Operational Readiness (April 2026)
4. Event-time and Dissolution (July 2026)

Each edition will draw on WePlan’s experience across multiple international projects and propose structured tools to support cities, regions, and organisers in managing the complexity of world-scale events.

The first Knowledge Paper is available for free download on https://www.we-plan.eu/knowledge-papers.

Just last month, India and Nigeria submitted formal proposals to host the centenary edition of the Games, and six weeks later, it looks set to go in the direction of the most-populous country in the world.

Confirming Ahmedabad, also known as Amdavad, as the 2030 host city now relies on a vote, set to take place at the Commonwealth Sport General Assembly in Glasgow on November 26 2025.

The Scottish city will host the 2026 Commonwealth Games as a late replacement for the Australian state of Victoria, who withdrew as host in 2023. In December, it will host the twelfth edition of Host City.

The recommendation to award the Games to India comes after a “detailed process” from the Commonwealth Sport Evaluation Committee, which assessed candidate cities’ capabilities in areas such as technical delivery, athlete experience, infrastructure, governance and “alignment with Commonwealth Sport values” based on the “Games Reset” principles outlined by the organisation.

Commonwealth Sport added that both Ahmedabad and the Nigerian capital Abuja submitted “compelling proposals” in their bids. Despite missing out, there is a glimmer of hope for Nigeria. The Commonwealth Sport Executive Board agreed to develop a strategy that would support the country’s ambition to host a future Commonwealth Games, including in 2034.

Dr. Donald Rukare, Interim President of Commonwealth Sport, said: “We are grateful to both India and Nigeria for the vision and commitment they have shown in developing proposals to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games. Both proposals were inspiring, reflecting the scale of opportunity within our Commonwealth family.

“The Executive Board has carefully considered the Evaluation Committee’s findings and is recommending Amdavad to our membership. This is a significant milestone for the Movement as we look to our Centenary Games, and we now look ahead to the General Assembly in Glasgow where our members will make the final decision.

“The Board were impressed with the vision and ambition of Nigeria’s proposal and were united in our commitment to continue working with their team to explore future hosting opportunities. This decision reflects our determination to take the Commonwealth Games to the African continent.”

Dr. P T Usha, President of the Indian Olympic Association, said: “It would be an extraordinary honour for India to host the Centenary Commonwealth Games in Amdavad. The Games would not only showcase India’s world-class sporting and event capabilities, but also play a meaningful role in our national journey towards Viksit Bharat 2047.

“We see the 2030 Games as a powerful opportunity to inspire our youth, strengthen international partnerships and contribute to a shared future across the Commonwealth.”

Viksit Bharat 2047 is a vision project from the Indian Government to make the country a developed nation by the centenary anniversary of India’s independence. India previously hosted the Commonwealth Games in 2010 in Delhi. The awarding of the 2030 Commonwealth Games fares well for India’s ambitions to host a future edition of the Olympic Games.

An African nation has never hosted the Commonwealth Games. South Africa has twice been awarded, but would not go on to host. Johannesburg was the original host city for the 1934 edition, but this was moved to London due to concerns over the treatment of non-white athletes. Durban has awarded the 2022 event, but was stripped due to financial constraints. Birmingham was instead awarded hosting rights.

Harare, Zimbabwe, then known as Salisbury as part of the colonial federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland, submitted a bid for the 1966 Games, while Nigeria has been unsuccessful on three attempts – Lagos in 1982 and Abuja in both 2014 and 2030.

The multi-sport event first took place in 1930 in Hamilton, Canada, and was formerly known as the British Empire Games, the British Empire and Commonwealth Games and British Commonwealth Games until adopting its current name for the 1978 edition in Edmonton.

[Source: ISSA] The Islamic Solidarity Sports Association (ISSA) will conduct a series of on-site inspection visits to Uzbekistan, Malaysia and Iran, following the official submission of their bids to host the 2029 Islamic Solidarity Games.

The visits represent a key milestone in the continued development of the Islamic Solidarity Games, as ISSA works to strengthen the event’s future and expand opportunities for countries to host major multi-sport events.

They also come as the countdown continues to the 6th Islamic Solidarity Games – Riyadh 2025, which will bring together athletes from 57 countries in a celebration of sport, unity and shared values.

ISSA Secretary General Nasser Majali welcomed the strong interest from the candidate countries, noting that it reflects the growing stature of the Islamic Solidarity Games and their increasing role in advancing sport at both regional and international levels.

“It is extremely encouraging to see three passionate and capable countries come forward to host the next edition of the Islamic Solidarity Games,” said Majali.

“These inspection visits represent a key phase in the evaluation process to ensure the Games are delivered to the highest standards for our athletes and National Olympic Committees, in full partnership with the host country.

“They also reaffirm ISSA’s commitment to enabling more member countries to benefit from hosting major international sports events and contributing to the continued development of sport across all regions.”

Following an initial evaluation process, six member countries submitted formal letters of interest to ISSA to host the next edition of the Islamic Solidarity Games. After further discussions and assessments, Uzbekistan, Malaysia and Iran proceeded to submit their full hosting bids.

The inspection visits are being led by the ISSA Secretary General, accompanied by members of the ISSA Sport Commission, to review the candidate countries’ facilities, infrastructure and organizational plans ahead of the final hosting decision.

The Riyadh 2025 Islamic Solidarity Games will welcome around 3,500 athletes from 57 countries, competing across 23 sports from 7 to 21 November 2025, marking the event’s return to Saudi Arabia two decades after the inaugural edition in 2005.

One of Scotland’s most recognisable sports media professionals, Rhona brings over two decades of experience in broadcasting, presenting, hosting and interviewing across the sporting world. She has reported from six Summer and Winter Olympic Games, the Paralympic Games, and will work on her sixth Commonwealth Games at Glasgow 2026. Her career highlights also include Wimbledon, the FIFA World Cup Finals, The Open Championship in golf, European and World Athletics Championships, and the Six Nations rugby.

A former international long jumper for Scotland, Rhona has travelled the globe as a sports journalist, working on every continent except Antarctica. As a proud Scot, she is especially delighted to welcome delegates to her home city of Glasgow for Host City 2025.

Speaking about her appointment, Rhona McLeod said:

“I am absolutely thrilled to be hosting Host City 2025. I have lived my professional life in the sports events business, and I cannot speak highly enough of the cultural value of working alongside a diverse and committed workforce of global citizens.

“It’s such an exciting time for the Events world. The return has been vibrant post COVID. I am honoured to be invited to be a part of “Getting on with the Business of Events.”

“I am excited to welcome all delegates to my home city. It’s going to be a fantastic programme of events with the most impressive of international sporting professionals on stage. We have already hosted Spiderman this summer – we are ready to welcome a great deal more Superheroes in December.”

Host City 2025 will gather event owners and organisers, cities and destinations and event suppliers under the theme “Getting on with the Business of Events” and will highlight the opportunities and challenges facing the global events industry in a rapidly evolving world.