Saudi Games confirmed for October start.

The Saudi Games will take place between Oct. 3 and Oct. 17 later this year in the Saudi capital Riyadh, organizers announced on Thursday.

The calendar sports event returns for its third incarnation after successes in boosting the local sporting landscape in the Kingdom in previous years.

Sports Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal, who is also the president of the Olympic and Paralympic Committee which organizes the event, confirmed the dates.

He thanked King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for their support, which has allowed the sport sector in the Kingdom to achieve excellence.

Each year, the games welcome a diverse set of athletes from across the Kingdom to take part in competitive sports as varied as swimming, cycling, powerlifting and gymnastics.  

The list of sports and registration dates will be announced in the future as well as details of the torch relay.

Last year the torch traversed 13,000 kilometers in 30 days across all 13 regions of the Kingdom and made over 70 stops along the way, with 121 athletes, 400 volunteers, and 18 dignitaries taking turns to hoist the lamp.