Its purpose, the organisers say, is "to enforce a sense of religious, national and social unity" – a timely message given the undercurrents of unrest and nervousness in the kingdom.
Given the undercurrents of controversy that have swirled about Emma Pooley's selection ahead of Dani King, how the Beijing time trial silver medallist performs on a course that should suit her will be an intriguing footnote.
Given the undercurrent of hostility, as well as the myriad problems that may arise — drunk uncles, political catfights, who's gluten free and who eats only what they kill — how is a modern family to survive these squabbles?
The prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull, is taking a political risk with this shift towards humanity, given the undercurrent of reflexive xenophobia characterising the political climate both here and internationally, and given the absolute premium the Coalition has placed on its swingeing stop the boats rhetoric.
"Given the undercurrent of hostility, as well as the myriad problems that may arise — drunk uncles, political catfights, who's gluten free and who eats only what they kill — how is a modern family to survive these squabbles?" In his This Life column "Just One Big, Happy Family," Bruce Feiler asked people who've hosted long-running family reunions to share their tips for making the event a success.
It was only a matter of time before one big event gave the undercurrent of racism sanction.
But who were they?Jones said that he could figure this out if he just looked carefully enough, which seemed like a brave assumption, given the deep undercurrents of tribe and clan, not to mention the way decades of war and occupation have left Afghans suspicious of outsiders and prone to telling them whatever they want to hear.
Given the historical undercurrents, flexible approaches are required to focus on strengths that contribute to progress, even if incremental, rather than on weaknesses which can undermine efforts.
Given the constant undercurrent of uneasiness accentuated by a sinister atonal score, there's an overriding Big Brother vibe, which might suggest that in society's all-consuming efforts to record everything for posterity we're losing sight of a bigger, more immediate picture.
But given the always lurking undercurrent of controversy and doubt about Jackson from so many, they're banking that they can put Jackson not Murray on trial.
As is the case in so many of the finest English dramas, what can't be said gives the encounter undercurrents of unrest and dissatisfaction.
