"Over the next few days, we will talk about inclusion, respect and tolerance," Ferriani said.

"These Games are placed under the banner of non-discrimination, our athletes are true ambassadors who prove every day that living together in peace is possible." 

The Games in Riyadh are the third since their inception in 2010, but the first since 2013.

"Consider the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia your second home," Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee vice-president Prince Fahad Bin Jalawi Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud told participants. 

"The arena lies before you, providing a golden opportunity to showcase your abilities. Embrace the competitive spirit, harness your talents, and stand as exemplary ambassadors for your nations on this international stage."

On the first day of competition, medals are set to be decided  in sambo and karate with preliminaries in boxing also on the programme.

Boxing is one of five Olympic sports to feature and the first medals in wrestling are set to be decided on Monday (October 23).

Judo's mixed team event featuring squads from all five continents scheduled for October 23 is expected to be one of the highlights of the Games.

Mediterranean Games gold medallist Messaoud Dris of Algeria who collected his second African Championship gold medal in August is among those expected to compete at under-73 kilograms.

Morocco's Abdel AliJina who won under-60 kg kumite gold in August at the African Championships in Casablanca and Mohammad Aljafari of Jordan, Asian champion at under-84kg kumite are both expected to star in karate.

In kickboxing, a sport turned down for inclusion at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics, Britain's +94kg world champion Chris Aston is likely to be a star attraction alongside Italian Elena Pantaleo, a triple world champion in the under-65 kg divisions.

Indonesian triple world champion Edgar Xavier Marvelo looks set to compete in wushu. 

He won gold medals in gunshu, duilan and changquan at the 2019 World Championships in Shanghai and in changquan when the event was contested at the 2022 World Games in Birmingham.

Shahrbano Mansouriyan Semiromi of Iran has won five world titles and is expected to compete in the women's sanda at under-65kg.

Competition in muaythai is expected to include Oleh Pryimachov of Ukraine, a world champion on four occasions and Turkey's Bediha Tacyildiz, a world gold medallist five times.

In ju-jitsu, five-time world champion Khaled Al Shehhi of the United Arab Emirates is expected to be amongst the leading names.

A total of 1,700 competitors from over 80 countries are set to compete in 16 combat sports and six para sports at the Games.

Disciplines include arm wrestling, included for the first time and scheduled for October 27.

Competition is scheduled to run until October 30 and set to conclude with events in savate, a French style of kickboxing.