ABSTRACTHISTORY OF SPORT IN SAUDI ARABIA AND CURRENT SITUATIONByAbdullah FattaThirty-nine years ago Saudi Arabia began participating in international sporting events. During those years, the Saudi population expected a higher level of achievement based on human and material potentials, reputation, and economic position of their country. This situation asked: what does Saudi Arabia need to do to improve success in the Olympic Games? What might be missing? In other words, what do Saudis' athletes need to be competitive? This study took an historical review of the sports programs as one way to answer these questions. This study presented a brief overview of Saudi Arabia. Also, this study showed the history of sports development in Saudi Arabia from inception to the present. Medal count in the Olympic Games over the history of sport in Saudi Arabia was the method used to determine success. Its history was divided into four sport periods starting when the General Presidency of Youth Welfare was established. The ratio between the number of Olympic medals and population, were compared with the United States of America, China, and Australia. What was found in this study was that initially, the total number of medals that Saudi Arabia won in all events increased, followed by a decrease from the middle of the third period through the present period. From this study three suggestions for the improvement in medal count at the Olympic Games were the following: First, encourage Saudis to use the sports facilities by opening it to the general population. Second, create development programs for youth, coaches, athletes, referees, and administrators. Finally, cultivate and increase competitive interest in a variety of sports, particularly individual sports, as all medals won in the Olympic Games were in individual sports.
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