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Saudi Sports Fund Potentially to Invest in World Athletics

Plus: Grand Slam Track signs Euro / Asia broadcast partner, Bol impresses at Euros, and more

March 07, 2025

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Saudi sports fund potentially to invest in World Athletics

Saudi Arabia's SURJ Sports Investments, a subsidiary of the Public Investment Fund (PIF), is in discussions with World Athletics to potentially invest in a new entity that would manage the sport's commercial rights, potentially valuing the business at approximately £500 million ($635.95 million). This investment aims to enhance World Athletics' commercial operations, including the development of new events. This move aligns with Saudi Arabia's broader strategy to expand its influence in global sports, following significant investments in tennis, golf, and soccer.

Grand Slam Track inks TV deal for Europe and Asia

Warner Bros. Discovery has entered into a multi-year partnership with Grand Slam Track to broadcast the league's inaugural season across Europe and Asia. This collaboration will provide live coverage of elite track events on platforms such as Max, discovery+, Eurosport, and TNT Sports, starting with the first event in Kingston, Jamaica, on April 4.

University of Missouri at St. Louis terminates track and field programs

The University of Missouri-St. Louis (UMSL) has decided to discontinue its men's and women's track and field programs, effective at the end of this semester. The university released a statement, noting the reasoning for dissolving the team included, “a thorough evaluation of multiple factors, including lack of facility, budget considerations, and program enrollment trends.” The program, which formed in 2020, has 45 members.

Femke Bol impresses at Euro Indoors

Femke Bol anchored the Netherlands to victory in the mixed 4x400m relay at the European Indoor Championships in front of a home crowd in Apeldoorn, setting a championship record of 3:15.63. Taking the baton in fourth place, Bol showcased her exceptional talent by swiftly moving into the lead and securing gold for the team. Notably, she declined to compete individually during this indoor season to focus on outdoors, but committed to the Euro Championships relays to be part of the hometown show. Belgium claimed silver with a time of 3:16.19, while Great Britain finished third in 3:16.49.

adidas expects slower growth in 2025

adidas has revised its 2025 financial outlook, projecting an operating profit between €1.7 billion and €1.8 billion, which falls short of analysts' expectations of €2.1 billion. The company anticipates annual revenue growth at a "high single-digit" rate, down from the 12% achieved in 2024. Despite these conservative forecasts, CEO Bjorn Gulden remains optimistic, emphasizing adidas's strong brand momentum and potential to increase market share globally.

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