Sports, Educational and Cultural Exchange

Saudi Arabian Pavilion in EXPO 2005

Saudi Pavilion's Special Home Page：www.expo2005saudipavilion.com

Educational Exchanges

 From 1973 to 2000, total 149 Saudi Arabian students studied in Japanese universities under the scholarship sponsored by Arabian Oil Company. After that, several Saudi students study in Japan under the scholarships of Japanese government and Saudi Aramco.

 At the expense of the Saudi Arabian government, Japanese students study Arabic and Islam in King Saud University in Riyadh, Islamic University in Madinah, Umm Al-Qura University in Makkah, and Imam Mohammad bin Saud Islamic University in Riyadh. Of these Saudi universities, King Saud University has a Japanese language department.

•  Arabic Islamic Institute in Tokyo

 One of them is Arabic Islamic Institute in Tokyo run by Imam Mohammad bin Saud Islamic University in Riyadh. The Tokyo Institute is an important nucleus for teaching Islamic culture and Arabic to Japanese students.

Sports Exchanges

• World Cup 2002

 In 2002, Saudi national soccer team visited Japan to compete in World Cup 2002 games. The Saudi football delegation members stayed in Chofu, a city west of Tokyo, where they were warmly received by hospitable people. Grass-roots friendship developed between the Saudi athletes and the citizens who supported the team to make ready for fighting
in its best conditions.

 Chofu city rooters cheering for Saudi national soccer team (June 2002)

 Saudi Arabian national football players fighting against Cameroonian players in World Cup 2002 games at Saitama stadium.
　

• Horse Racing

 Every year in May or June, Arabian horses compete for 'Saudi Arabia Royal Cup' in
Tokyo Racecourse. The cup was offered by Crown Prince Abdullah in 1999.

 In 2005, a special 'Saudi Arabia-Japan 50th anniversary race' will be held in addition to the regular Royal cup race. An equivalent 'Japan Cup' has also been held annually in Riyadh since 2002.