Christian Wilhelmsson, 42, will join the Saudi Games in 2022 and lead the way.
He received a personal invitation from the country’s Minister of Sports and accepted it without blinking an eye.
Things are going in the right direction in Saudi Arabia, Chibin tells Sportbladet.
“It is with great pleasure that we invite Mr. Christian Wilhelmsson to the first edition of the Saudi Games 2022 in Riyadh. As our guest of honor, we welcome you to join us in celebrating this historic achievement and an important milestone for the Kingdom. Kingdom Saudi Arabia“.
This is what was stated in the personal invitation that Christian Wilhelmson received from the Saudi Minister of Sports, Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal, which was accepted by “Shibin”.
“It would be an honor”Al Suwaidi writes on Instagram.
The Saudi Games are like a miniature version of the Olympic Games where more than 6,000 athletes compete in 45 different sports – and where a former Swedish football star was invited as the guest of honor.
– I have good relations with Saudi Arabia. It’s good to be there and support. It’s a nice initiative and could potentially be a great event, says Chippin when the Sportbladet gets to him.
“There are problems everywhere”
Amnesty International continues to describe Saudi Arabia as a country with a “terrible attitude towards human rights”. With limited freedom of expression, where women are repressed and where a mass execution was carried out last spring.
The country has also long been criticized for attempting to discredit it through so-called “sports washing”.
But Christian Wilhelmson does not see it controversial to stand as the figurehead of the Saudi Games.
There are problems and turmoil everywhere in the world and people have opinions about everything. Personally, I have been living in Saudi Arabia for several years and have never had any problems. I feel things are going in the right direction and I think that should be taken into account and appreciated. He says it is worse if countries lag behind in development.
You say things are going in the right direction, but are they happening fast enough?
Well, things take time, and they can’t go very fast either. You can’t run before you walk. I think they (the Saudis) are handling this in the best possible way and as I said, there are many other countries where development is lagging, so they should definitely be commended for what they are doing.
Have you tried reading about human rights in Saudi Arabia? Still talking about a country where a mass execution took place last spring?
– This is the case, but as I said: controversial matters happen everywhere. In every country I say. It’s 2022 and we have wars all over the world, in places where you never thought there might be wars. We can sit here and discuss Swedish politics forever, or what is happening in other countries in Europe, the United States or Latin America. There are a lot of things to have opinions on, so I think it’s best to focus on when things are really going in the right direction, says Chippen.
‘I wasn’t politically conscious before’
He does not see a political position in the face of the Saudi Games.
– of course not. I’ve never been politically aware or put any time or energy into it, because it feels like you’re hitting your head against a wall, you’re getting nowhere. I’d like to comment on as many things that happen in Sweden and internationally, but I don’t think you’re getting anywhere, because it’s just stupid things being said. Then I prefer to focus on the positive.
Do you get paid to put this up?
– No nothing.
Christian Wilhelmson started his career as a footballer in Milan. After a few years in European clubs, in 2008 he chose to sign for Saudi club Al Hilal, then played in Saudi Arabia for four years.
He now lives in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.
