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In 1989, Saudi Arabia hosted the
fifth World Youth Soccer Cup Championship, won the championship,
and received a special commendation from FIFA, the international
soccer federation, for the outstanding manner in which it has organized
the event.
In 1994, the Saudi national soccer team represented Asia at the
World Cup finals in the United States, reached the second round,
and received accolades for their playing. Saudi Arabia continues
to participate in the World Cup every four years.
The Kingdom also participated in the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, and the 2000 Olympics in Sydney,
Australia, with competitors in the equestrian, wrestling, and track
and field events as well as in soccer.
In 2006, Saudi Arabia won the Learning Disability World Cup for soccer in Leverkusen, Germany.
Saudi Arabia is also home to several Little League baseball teams, one of which has qualified over a dozen times for the Little League Baseball World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.
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Saudi
Arabia's extensive sports program has brought about not only a
quantitative growth of sports, but also a dramatic qualitative
improvement. The performance of Saudi athletes has improved steadily
since the Kingdom joined the International Olympic Committee in
1965.
