Saudi Arabia's enormous investment in everything from football to snowboarding has been one of sport's major themes in the last decade. The oil-rich Gulf state offered astronomical wages to footballers in the twilight of their careers, won the right to host football's World Cup after developing strong ties with FIFA , bought a Premier League club, split the golf world and sought to host all manner of events, from snooker, through women's tennis to wrestling. The splurge was tied to the country'