Transcripts For BBCNEWS Inside 20240706 : vimarsana.com

There seems no went to the number of sports you are investing in. Iwill number of sports you are investing in. I will be at the high point now or are we jUst Beginning thejourney . High point now or are we Ust Beginning the journey . Beginning the ourney . There is a loss, beginning the ourney . There is a loss. As you beginning the journey . There is a loss, as you said, beginning the journey . There is a loss, as you said, our a loss, as you said, our ambition is to host the best events Around The World in the kingdom for the people of the kingdom for the people of the kingdom to see but also to invite the world to the kingdom. We have formula i is one of them. The olympics. These are the highest events that any nation would love to host within their countries. Within the 2030 vision, we have targets that we want to host the biggest advance to attract the biggest advance to attract the world sports to be part of that Employee A Role in that. Do you want to be the number one Sporting Superpower in the world . ,. ,. , one Sporting Superpower in the world . ,. ,. , world . They are hosted in all the countries world . They are hosted in all the countries around world . They are hosted in all the countries Around The World . They are hosted in all i the countries Around The World. If we can add to the sporting theme, that is something beneficial for everyone, and why not . I do not see it that way, were competing with others. See we are playing a role to develop a sports within the world and to be a part of the world and to be a part of the International Community. It is a competitive business. You mention the pre league mother players you have managed to attract a been taken away from other leagues. Do you think the Premier League should be worried . Premier league should be worried . . ,. , worried . Are you a threat . I think the worried . Are you a threat . I think the premier worried . Are you a threat . I think the Premier League. Worried . Are you a threat . I | think the Premier League did that and that is how they started. Nobody questioned them when they did it. Our focus started. Nobody questioned them when they did it. 0urfocus is to develop sports within the kingdom, to develop a league, to attract the best in the world to be a part of our development. Today when you see these players playing on the pitch, the nine, six years old, they would aspire to be them in they would aspire to be them in the future. It they would aspire to be them in the future the future. It is our ambition. How is the the future. It is our ambition. How is the pre the future. It is our ambition. How is the pre league the future. It is our ambition. | how is the pre league going . How is the pre league going . There was a huge amount of interest and publicity around the transfer window. We also read about low attendances for some matches. How healthy is the pro league . Some matches. How healthy is the pro league . You will attend the pro league . You will attend the match. The pro league . You will attend the match, you the pro league . You will attend the match, you can the pro league . You will attend the match, you can see the pro league . You will attend the match, you can see for the match, you can see for yourself. You can meet the people and see the excitement that happens. 0f people and see the excitement that happens. Of course like anywhere in the world there are some matches that attract much more audience than others. All of our big matches, i would say, have attracted Record Numbers so far. Say, have attracted Record Numbers so far. The riyadh derby in numbers so far. The riyadh derby in the numbers so far. The riyadh derby in the saudi numbers so far. The riyadh derby in the saudi pre numbers so far. The riyadh derby in the saudi pre league. Derby in the saudi pre league. 0ne derby in the saudi pre league. One of several Sports Events and events are visited by the Ministry Of Sport officials. Having laws of the games biggest names here, saudi arabias remarkable spending three, both in the pro league and beyond, is generating plenty of hype and potentially growth as well. It is also forcing them to confront difficult questions over the disruption always investment is causing and the motivation that lies behind it. Clubs he spent almost 1 billion signing top stars from europe this summer. Transforming this league and sending shockwaves through the Transfer Market. While the top of the table because of the sla, some matches have been washed byjust a few hundred fans but the man leading the Recruitment Drive insists it is worth it. There has been an awful lot happening here and some big names recruited. What some big names recruited. What is the scale some big names recruited. What is the scale of some big names recruited. What is the scale of ambition some big names recruited. Thrust is the scale of ambition here . When you want to do something, you need to have the ambition to do it well and you would be, as ambitious as possible. This is the route that the kingdom of saudi arabia has embarked on the support of the crown prince and the Ministry Of Sports. 0ur and the Ministry Of Sports. Our goal is to create a hugely competitive league, one that is detaining and one that our people want to tune in to watch. ~. , ,. , watch. We have seen reports of uuite low watch. We have seen reports of quite low attendance watch. We have seen reports of quite low attendance for watch. We have seen reports of quite low attendance for some l quite low attendance for some games. Is a disappointing . Ht games. Is a disappointing . It is not disappointing. We will be happy to have all our citizens full or half full, we recognise the evolution that is taking place. Recognise the evolution that is taking place taking place. You are taking some of the taking place. You are taking some of the best taking place. You are taking some of the best players i taking place. You are taking some of the best players in | some of the best players in europe. Should they be worried . They have no reason to be worried. They should be encouraged because this belongs to all of us. You, me, the participants on the pitch, the players. The Football Industry is our industry and i think the saudi degree three ends to help and enhance that. The saudi degree three ends to help and enhance that. And enhance that. The spending we saw this and enhance that. The spending we saw this summer, and enhance that. The spending we saw this summer, will and enhance that. The spending we saw this summer, will they i we saw this summer, will they continue in the next transfer window, and the one after that . May now consolidate a little . Spending will depend on need. We will spend based on what we think is necessary for us. At some point it will be focusing on infrastructure development, improvement, performance improvement. 0ther improvement, performance improvement. Other times they may be an opportunity to go in as a it is time to give a boost to the Transfer Market and bring some players if they are available. It applies to every league in the world. For those who have not been here, how good is a standard . What is a comparison to the Premier League . Ht what is a comparison to the Premier League . What is a comparison to the premier leauue . , , Premier League . It impressed me a lot when Premier League . It impressed me a lot when i Premier League . It impressed me a lot when i came Premier League . It impressed me a lot when i came here. Premier league . It impressed me a lot when i came here. The a lot when i came here. The atmosphere is amazing. Ht is a lot when i came here. The atmosphere is amazing. It is a rival to the atmosphere is amazing. It is a rival to the premier atmosphere is amazing. It is a rival to the Premier League . | atmosphere is amazing. It is a rival to the Premier League . I | rival to the Premier League . I think it is one more league to improve football Around The World. I think that is the most important thing. If we can have the best players playing here as we have now, i believe we will have even more, why not . You will people question why deeply is calmer. Is itjust for the money . Deeply is calmer. Is it ust for the money . Deeply is calmer. Is it ust for the money . One of the thins for the money . One of the things is for the money . One of the things is the for the money . One of the things is the money for the money . One of the things is the money of for the money . One of the things is the money of course. You cannot either. It is a big project. People have no idea how their country is improving and other is improving he Anne Aly Football can be in a few years. In one year we did this. I believe in two more years, it will be an amazing league. From Newcastle United will be an amazing league. From Newcastle United to will be an amazing league. From Newcastle United to be will be an amazing league. From Newcastle United to be saudi. Newcastle united to be Saudi Pro League and golf, this building is now the heart of world sport. Here in the centre of the financial district is the headquarters of Saudi Arabias Public Investment Fund which, in recent years, has invested billions of pounds into sport on a scale and at a speed never seen before. Former premier League Player Henrique Greg now flies his trade he having signed for Pro League Club at the start of the season. What did you think when someone said to you there is interest in saudi arabia . What was our interest in saudi arabia . What was your first interest in saudi arabia . What was your first thought . Interest in saudi arabia . What was your first thought . Yes, l was your first thought . Yes, lets do it. Was the exciting move for me. Realistic enough to know i was not going to go back to a Premier League club becoming here, sort of felt like that. Because of the calibre of players. It was a place to karma. Calibre of players. It was a place to karma. How would you sa the place to karma. How would you say the standard place to karma. How would you say the standard of place to karma. How would you say the standard of football say the standard of football here is compare to the Premier League of the championship . It is hard to compare because you obviously have the top teams, the top teams here who are obviously Premier League quality. Between the top teams but then as you come down it levels out. It is hard to put into context as to what sort of level it is out. Level it is out. What about the atmosphere . Level it is out. What about the atmosphere . We level it is out. What about the atmosphere . We have level it is out. What about the atmosphere . We have read i atmosphere . We have read recently about low attendances for some matches. He was an idea of how long we can be . It could be 100, could be 200. Idea of how long we can be . It| could be 100, could be 200. As a disheartening playing in front of a few hundred people . No, look, igrew front of a few hundred people . No, look, i grew up in a non league so i am used to it. For me personally i can quickly adapt to things like that. Share adapt to things like that. Are ou here adapt to things like that. Are you here just adapt to things like that. Are you here just for adapt to things like that. Are you here just for the money . No, you herejust for the money . No, there is no size of it. Obviously a lot of players have come here for a lot more money but there is still the element of competition here as well. What is it like coming up against this calibre . You have in the past, jamaican international, you are used to that. But even you, you sometimes think this is crazy . It is bad. Dominic mad. It was more shocking when Rinaldo First came. I think that was like well, but then thatjust open the door for like well, but then thatjust open the doorfor all of like well, but then thatjust open the door for all of this to happen. If anything, it is all they have spent all this money but it is a good Return On Investment by the looks of it. Rinaldo has brought so much now to the Football Side of things. As ijust football. We have the boxing now. The bidding for the world cup. All of these things, formula 1. Will they be good world cup posts . Will they be good world cup osts . , i1 i , posts . Yes, 100 . They will make sure posts . Yes, 10096. They will make sure Everything Posts . Yes, 10096. They will make sure everything is posts . Yes, 10096. They will| make sure everything is done correctly and look, i think even just looking at the success of the qatar world cup, people are saying it is the best one. The best they have watched recently. Thatjust recently itself. Qatar is just down the road. Up up until relatively recently, for many, the idea of qatar and then here, saudi arabia, both hosting world cup is within the space ofjust 12 years have been inconceivable. The fact that they asked is a great deal about rapidly changing landscape in International Sports and the growing influence of this region. There has been a lot of debate around the Bidding Process that led you to becoming the sole bidder for 34. You to becoming the sole bidder for34. It you to becoming the sole bidder for 34. ,. , you to becoming the sole bidder for34. ,. ,. , for 34. It is been a part of our strategy for 34. It is been a part of our strategy since for 34. It is been a part of our strategy since 2015. I for 34. It is been a part of. Our strategy since 2015. What other Sporting Events you want to host and how to rebuild up to host and how to rebuild up to it. We have a study for a long time. When we saw opportunity, we submitted because we are ready. What we should look at is what benefits the sport of football. Trio the sport of football. No deals . He the sport of football. No deals . He was the sport of football. No deals . He was a the sport of football. No deals . He was a lack the sport of football. No deals . He was a lack of| deals . He was a lack of transparency deals . He was a lack of transparency dont deals . He was a lack of| transparency dont make everyone was clear on the regulations and nobody objected to them. I dont think there was any lack of transparency for fever. Was any lack of transparency forfever. It was any lack of transparency for fever. It was only that we are ready to do it. Maybe others are not. That is that our fault. Others are not. That is that ourfault. I5 others are not. That is that our fault others are not. That is that ourfault. ,. , our fault. Is your expectation that it would our fault. Is your expectation that it would be our fault. Is your expectation that it would be staged our fault. Is your expectation that it would be staged nowl our fault. Is your expectation l that it would be staged now in winter . I that it would be staged now in winter . , e. , that it would be staged now in winter . e. ,. , that it would be staged now in winter . , e. ,. , winter . I dont know, to be honest winter . I dont know, to be honest. Definitely winter . I dont know, to be honest. Definitely we winter . I dont know, to be honest. Definitely we are l honest. Definitely we are studying both options to see what is the best option to host the world cup. He what is the best option to host the world cup. The world cup. He was think it is possible the world cup. He was think it is possible to the world cup. He was think it is possible to have the world cup. He was think it is possible to have in the world cup. He was think it| is possible to have in summer . We are studying that. Hose is possible to have in summer . We are studying that. How could ou do we are studying that. How could you do that we are studying that. How could you do that when we are studying that. How could you do that when the you do that when the temperature is so. Hopefully we will find temperature is so. Hopefully we will find out temperature is so. Hopefully we will find out when temperature is so. Hopefully we will find out when our we will find out when our studies are finished. Definitely were looking at the possibilities. Why not look at that and see what are the possibilities . To you want in the summer . I dont know what the summer . I dont know what the decision will be. We are definitely work to make sure it is the best world cup to ever be hosted. Is the best world cup to ever be hosted be hosted. There are also concerned be hosted. There are also concerned that be hosted. There are also concerned that sport be hosted. There are also concerned that sport is i be hosted. There are also i concerned that sport is being used to improve the reputation of a country where womens rights are restricted and homosexuality is illegal. For those who say that saudi arabia is not a suitable host, not an appropriate host for a global event such as the world cup, what is your message . Irate event such as the world cup, what is your message . We have showcased what is your message . We have showcased that what is your message . We have showcased that we what is your message . We have showcased that we have what is your message . We have showcased that we have hosted | showcased that we have hosted more than 85 global events and we have delivered on the highest level. People have come and enjoy them. All the comments i have had from everyone who visited these events have been very positive. When you are accused of a sports watching, does that frustrate you . It sports watching, does that frustrate you . Sports watching, does that frustrate you . It is shallow. I am sure frustrate you . It is shallow. I am sure a frustrate you . It is shallow. I am sure a lot frustrate you . It is shallow. I am sure a lot of frustrate you . It is shallow. I am sure a lot of people frustrate you . It is shallow. I am sure a lot of people who l am sure a lot of people who accuse us of that have not been here or have not seen what we are doing, when they come in the sea night, six years old kids have the opportunity, to meet with the best in the world, when they meet the top athletes they come, that is opportunity for the youth. Seeing them participate in the numbers increasing, that is the real revenue we have. Developing spot within a nation. We do not want to do it alone and we had by the whole world to be a part of it. World to be a part of it. There are some world to be a part of it. There are some people world to be a part of it. There are some people ask world to be a part of it. There are some people ask if world to be a part of it. There are some people ask if they l world to be a part of it. There l are some people ask if they are gay or rewarding, is a place they will be welcome. Will they be safe if they are attending the world cup . Irate be safe if they are attending the world cup . Be safe if they are attending the world cup . We host a lot of events in the the world cup . We host a lot of events in the past, the world cup . We host a lot of events in the past, more the world cup . We host a lot of events in the past, more than i events in the past, more than 85 events, everyone is welcome in the kingdom. Like any other nation Around The World, we have rules and regulations that everyone should abide by and respect. When we come to the uk, we respect the rules and regulations whether we believe in them or not but this is the what we have to be accounted for. What we have to be accounted for. What we have to be accounted for. ,. ,. ,. ,. , for. The annual games are a new National Sports for. The annual games are a new national Sports Events national Sports Events featuring 6000 athletes across 53 sports in just a second year. Alongside diversifying the economy, this is what the authorities hearsay lies behind the investment in sport. Inspiring a youthful population to become more active with the critics believe its a more complicated than that. film complicated than that. Our concerns complicated than that. Our concerns about complicated than that. Our concerns about the complicated than that. Or concerns about the investment in sport is not so much that saudi arabia is investing in sports by putting more money. It is not going hand in hand with an improvement in Human Rights Record. Saudi arabia has every right to invest in sport, every right to invest in sport, every right to bid for a world cup but there are standards that the country should meet my like any other country hosting a major event. That includes respecting freedom of expression, workers rights, preventing discrimination and unfortunately in the last two years, saudi arabia Human Rights Record has gotten worse, not better. We still see activists imprisoned for decades just for tweeting and we have recently reported a widespread exploitation of Migrant Workers in the country. The issues we saw in qatar and has a huge reliance on Migrant Workers and we risk seeing the same types of abuse that we saw in qatar and perhaps even on an even bigger scale and a letter with a major reform of these laws in the country, we will see the same abuses and that is we face up to right now. We face up to right now. During the guitar we face up to right now. During the guitar or we face up to right now. During the guitar or cup we face up to right now. During the guitar or cup buildup, we face up to right now. During the guitar or cup buildup, is the guitar or cup buildup, is it a problem that could be repeated with the world cup here . I repeated with the world cup here . , repeated with the world cup here . , i repeated with the world cup here . ,. , repeated with the world cup here . , , here . I assure you it wont be repeated here . I assure you it wont be repeated we here . I assure you it wont be repeated. We have here . I assure you it wont be repeated. We have tenure here . I assure you it wont be repeated. We have tenure to | here . I assure you it wont be l repeated. We have tenure to on that. We already started. We have a long time to do it and the right time and white process. Author of the collaboration with the father to put the right steps in. Hour to put the right steps in. How much infrastructure much Infrastructure Construction is going to be required in terms of both values and wider infrastructure . ,. ,. , infrastructure . We are already developing infrastructure . We are already developing infrastructure. Infrastructure . We are already developing infrastructure. If. Developing infrastructure. If you look at the different facilities we are building for sport because sport is going in the kingdom. We are not required to build a lot more to host the event. There are certain requirements that are obligatory to host the event which we are already working on the federation is already working with people towards that. Already the infrastructure is being built as part of our plan to develop sport in the kingdom. Talk as part of our plan to develop sport in the kingdom. Sport in the kingdom. Talk to saudi authorities, sport in the kingdom. Talk to saudi authorities, they sport in the kingdom. Talk to saudi authorities, they will. Saudi authorities, they will totally sport as a driver for positive change. As there are not some good coming from this . Sport can be a driver for positive change and can also be used to board of education and to change an image of a place without changing its Human Rights Record. Something like awarding the world cup could. It could instigate a positive period of change in saudi arabia. If it is ignored and put aside, if it is seen as an inconvenience i think we will see many same problems we saw and a guitar. The Huge Investment in sport as for multiple reasons and wonders about saudi arabia s image and power. We cannot be naive to that and they have to take that into account and to govern appropriately. 0pen play. Aha, appropriately. Open play. A Training Session for some of the estimated 70,000 saudi girls now play football. Women were only allowed in stadiums five years ago but there has been rapid progress since with the creation of a professional legal and national team. It is really progressing legaland nationalteam. It 3 really progressing and warming, we are happy about whats going on with womens and saudi arabia. ~. , on with womens and saudi arabia. ~. , ,. ,. , arabia. What is this doing for womens arabia. What is this doing for womens rights arabia. What is this doing for womens rights and arabia. What is this doing for womens rights and female i womens rights and female empowerment in this country . This progress in football. We are celebrating a milestone. Where i am depressed female Vice President of the saudi arabia football federation. Only me. We also have six boarding Federation Led by female president s. We have 100 Board Members that are females. You can see how the empowerment is very important for woman through football and through sport. Through football and through sort, , through football and through sort,. , through football and through sort. ,. , sport. Because of the issues around womens sport. Because of the issues around womens rights sport. Because of the issues around womens rights in i sport. Because of the issues i around womens rights in saudi arabia in the past and still, what do you think when you hear these debates about whether this is a suitable country to be staging International Womens sport . I be staging International Womens sport . Be staging International Womens sport . I am not frustrated womens sport . I am not frustrated much womens sport . I am not frustrated much but womens sport . I am not| frustrated much but there womens sport . I am not frustrated much but there was a lot of dilemma about what is going on really in saudi arabia. We are focusing on ourselves and i am here to see some people think they are the centre of our attention but i wake up every day trying to appease someone or impress someone, that is nonsense. I am here for these ladies. We want to create a platform for them to create a platform for them to play football and want to create a better environment in saudi arabia. Create a better environment in saudi arabia. Would you like to see saudi arabia saudi arabia. Would you like to see saudi arabia host saudi arabia. Would you like to see saudi arabia host the see saudi arabia host the womens world cup as well as the mens . Womens world cup as well as the mens . You go Around The World and the mens . You go Around The World and ask the mens . You go Around The World and ask any the mens . You go Around The World and ask any vice world and ask any Vice President that question, the answer would be yes, why not . Womens participation in sport has increased by 50 compared to the has increased by 50 compared to the population. If you took about to the population. If you took about seven sport, some have increased about seven sport, some have increased by 300. About seven sport, some have increased by 300. Human rights campaigners increased by 300. Human rights campaigners will increased by 300. Human rights campaigners will say increased by 300. Human rights campaigners will say look increased by 300. Human rights campaigners will say look at campaigners will say look at the imprisoning of campaigners for womens rights. Do you acknowledge that there is still room for improvement here . For sure. Room for improvement here . For sure any room for improvement here . For sure. Any country Around The World sure. Any country Around The World has sure. Any country Around The World has room for improvement, we acknowledge that and we are reformed we acknowledge that and we are reformed and these events help us perform to a Better Future for everyone. Within the kingdom. We are reforming, we are putting the right steps in and working with International Community with International Federations in order to do in the right federations in order to do in the right way and we are learning from it. We never saudi arabia learning from it. We never saudi arabia has learning from it. We never saudi arabia has been learning from it. We never. Saudi arabia has been some movement in that womans freedoms and society. It has also been at the same time a harsher repression on activists. We had women over the last couple of years, decades in prison because they tweeted quite much opposition to political power. These things go hand in hand. Important see the entire picture. Of course we want to encourage womens participation in sport and saudi arabia and want to encourage and celebrate saudi s playing sport. I think thatis saudi s playing sport. I think that is a great thing and a proud sporting country and we saw that in the world cup. How passionate fans are. That is a good thing. At the same that was not be naive about what else is going on. Lets use the prices that exists within sport to try and try for positive change. To try and try for positive change to try and try for positive chance. ~. ,. , change. Here in saudi arabia is now, but change. Here in saudi arabia is now. But its change. Here in saudi arabia is now, but its training change. Here in saudi arabia is now, but its Training Academy i now, but its Training Academy it is hoped Sporting Opportunities can help change perceptions of the country. I want to become a professional athlete and represent my country at the olympics and make everybody proud of my country. Make everybody proud of my count. ~. ,. , make everybody proud of my count. ~. ,. , country. We want to be more known as country. We want to be more known as the country. We want to be more known as the country country. We want to be more known as the country that. Country. We want to be more | known as the country that has country. We want to be more i known as the country that has a lot of known as the country that has a lot of opportunities for girls, not only lot of opportunities for girls, not only men. Women can work as well, not only men. Women can work as well, drivers not only men. Women can work as well, drivers well, do athletics as well. | well, drivers well, do athletics as well. I think sorts athletics as well. I think sports in athletics as well. I think sports in saudi athletics as well. I think sports in saudi arabia i athletics as well. I think i sports in saudi arabia will make sports in saudi arabia will make a sports in saudi arabia will make a really sports in saudi arabia will make a really Big Sports In saudi arabia will. Make a really big difference. Mostly make a really big difference. Mostly that make a really big difference. Mostly that they make a really big difference. Mostly that they are make a really big difference. Mostly that they are actuallyj mostly that they are actually developing mostly that they are actually developing and mostly that they are actually developing and a mostly that they are actually developing and a lot mostly that they are actually developing and a lot of mostly that they are actually| developing and a lot of stuff. It will developing and a lot of stuff. It will really developing and a lot of stuff. It will really make developing and a lot of stuff. It will really make people developing and a lot of stuff. | it will really make people not see us it will really make people not see us as it will really make people not see us as a it will really make people not see us as a really it will really make people not see us as a really wet it will really make people not| see us as a really wet country because see us as a really wet country because they see us as a really wet country because they have see us as a really wet country because they have always see us as a really wet country. Because they have always judged saudi because they have always judged saudi arabia because they have always judged saudi arabia for because they have always judged saudi arabia for the because they have always judged saudi arabia for the two saudi arabia for the two religious saudi arabia for the two religious and saudi arabia for the twol religious and everything. Saudi arabia for the two religious and everything. Our country wants religious and everything. Our country wants to religious and everything. Country wants to have a religious and everythingm country wants to have a good reputation for athletics and not have the western media be so stereotypical about us. Saudi arabia is remarkable Investment Sport shows no of abating. Chantra hosting of a preliminary regatta for the prestigious americas cup. The first time the event has ever been staged here in the red sea. More and more sports are being enticed here to this oil rich state. The credits waved aside. What is it that people who suggest sailing and other spores are being used by saudi arabia to project a more positive image of saudi arabia because of its human rights. We have seen because of its human rights. 7 have seen this is the place where sport will grow. What are committees like the red sea for those not familiar with International Regattas in this part of the world . We did a study looking at the actual american stuff cup itself. The windy conditions we saw our project. And they are perfect. Great thing today and the rest of the week is looking good. I will give you the forecast for the next thousand years, looking perfect. It the next thousand years, looking perfect. The next thousand years, looking perfect. It is coming to countries looking perfect. It is coming to countries whose looking perfect. It is coming to countries whose wealth i looking perfect. It is comingj to countries whose wealth is based on the fossil fuel industry. Is it not a contradiction . Industry. Is it not a contradiction . , industry. Is it not a contradiction . ,. , contradiction . This book is not sustainable contradiction . This book is not sustainable sport. Contradiction . This book is not sustainable sport. There contradiction . This book is not sustainable sport. There is contradiction . This book is not sustainable sport. There is the smith that its sustainable. Chest was that although both are powered by fuel. I think the money we make from sponsorships allow us to invest in sustainability. We dont think whether the Gold Standard of sustainability, far from think whether the Gold Standard of sustainability, farfrom it. Some believe saudi investment is for is being used to deflect attention from its environmental record and are concerned by any suggestion of a summer tournament. Than a summer tournament. An extraordinary a summer tournament. Seifi extraordinary thing to a summer tournament. Jeffi extraordinary thing to host a major World Sports Event in an extreme climate in the summer. Youre putting athlete putting fans at risk. You are guaranteeing you have a Massive Energy footprint because to create conditions even barely tolerable, you have to have the infrastructure and the Air Conditioning which is incredibly Energy Intensive to do that. They have a huge Pollution Problem but by sponsoring sport, it is quite easy to distract people s attention from it and give yourself that kind of feelgood buzz you get when you associate with an activity that people love so much. That is the thing about sport, the emotional connection you get with fans. Some people say it saudi arabia, one of the biggest Oil Exporters in the world, a country that is contributing to Climate Change and global warming. A lot of this is again designed to make the distract attention from that fact. I reject that completely because we are taking that seriously and we are part of this globe so we have to make sure our future is confined in the right way for our kids. That is what we plan for as well. We are part of this community and put our all in there and we love doing that. Our all in there and we love doing that our all in there and we love doinu that. ,. ,. , doing that. How confident are ou the doing that. How confident are you the environmental doing that. How confident are you the environmental cost i doing that. How confident are j you the environmental cost of staging such an event in this country is worth the benefits . It is a mandate to make sure we abide by the International Regulations and abide by International Requirements to make sure we play our board to make sure we play our board to make sure we play our board to make sure it is eco friendly. However staging a massive event consistent with that . Is it not a contradiction . Itla consistent with that . Is it not a contradiction . Consistent with that . Is it not a contradiction . No because it is art of a contradiction . No because it is part of our a contradiction . No because it is part of our development, i a contradiction . No because it| is part of our development, we take that into consideration, what do we have to do make it efficient for the environment and we work towards that. Such assurances and we work towards that. Such assurances are and we work towards that. Such assurances are unlikely and we work towards that. Such assurances are unlikely to assurances are unlikely to prevent continuing scrutiny for those who have misgivings about saudi arabia s hosting of such events. Amid controversy as well as opportunity and profound sporting ships towards this country seems to be gathering pace. Hello there. It was a stunning end to the day that we had over northeast england with some amazing sunsets reported pretty widely. Caused by a few gaps in the cloud opening up at the right time to allow those setting sun rays through. It was across Eastern England and parts of Eastern Scotland we had todays lowest temperatures, six degrees in fylingdales. Here it is set to get milder into the weekend. Temperaturesjumping up to around 11 degrees. It is mild because it is cloudy and that cloud sheet is with us for the next few hours. Damp weather moving across scotland where it is quite breezy. A few patches of drizzle around western coasts and hills and there may well be one or two mist and fog patches but no frost around. It will be a mild start to saturday. This weekend sees a Weather Front that gets stuck across the north West Of Scotland and it will bring very large Rainfall Accumulations with rain building up through the weekend. The met office have issued an Amber Warning for this. Potentially as much as 200 millimetres of rain across The High Ground in the highlands, enough to cause Flooding Concerns and one or two landslips as well. The weekend dominated by these mild southwesterly winds. Temperatures will be reaching double figures widely. Saturday, rain across the far northWest Of Scotland. Damp weather to start the day in the west with a few patches of drizzle and a bit of mist and fog around, otherwise cloudy. A chance of a few breaks developing given there is more wind over the welsh mountains. To the east of The High Ground and across the midlands, might actually start to see breaks in the crowd and a bit of sunshine otherwise staying cloudy for most of the day. Similar story on sunday. A bit more in the way of rain, more extensively over scotland. Some damp weather for northern ireland. At the same time, better prospect of seeing cloud breaks move up from north france. Could see a bit of sunshine across the South Of England and the Southern Parts of wales for the second part of the weekend. Monday continues with the mild flow of air. Some areas of rain mainly across western areas. That east having a better chance of a few breaks and a few bright sunny spells. It is going to be a very mild day for december. Beyond that, the weather does turn colder. May will be cold enough for some of these showers to start to turn wintry towards the end of the week or perhaps the following weekend. Live from washington, this is bbc news. Israeli military forces tell the bbc theyre investigating the accidental killing of three hostages. Israel says it misidentifyied them as a threat. Ukraine failed to land the military support it had hoped for this week. Well hear how thats playing out on the ground. Donald trumps former lawyer is ordered to pay nearly 150 million over his false election claims. Rudy giuliani insists he doenst regret a thing. Hello, im sumi somaskanda. Theres new reaction to israel saying that is has accidentally shot dead three hostages in gaza after mistakenly identifying them as a threat. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called the incident an unbearable tragedy