BEIJING — Saudi Arabia on Friday made its first appearance at the Winter Olympics after alpine skier Fayik Abdi qualified to compete in Beijing 2022. The Saudi delegation led by Abdi walked into the opening ceremony at the Beijing National Stadium raising the Kingdom's green and white flag for the first time in the history of Winter Olympics. Saudi Arabia's participation in the Winter Olympics is a first for the Gulf Arab states. Abdi arrived in the Chinese capital on Thursday in preparation for his historic participation in the Games on Feb. 13. Abdi qualified for the Olympics in December after scoring 131.03 points during the five best races he participated in, registering his name as the first Saudi to participate in the Winter Olympics since its launch in 1924. Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Faisal, Minister of Sports and President of the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee (SOPC), who headed the Saudi delegation to Beijing, attended the opening ceremony. The Saudi delegation also includes Prince Fahd bin Jalawi bin Abdulaziz bin Musaed, Vice President of the Saudi Arabian Olympic Committee; Princess Reema bint Bandar bin Sultan, member of the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee and member of the International Olympic Committee; and member of the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee Adwa Al-Oraifi.
