NGSC Hosts Dialogue on Historic Esports Transformation

A dialogue session titled “The Historic Transformation of Esports” was held on Saturday, August 24, 2024, during the first day of the New Global Sport Conference (NGSC) in Riyadh. The session featured Prince Fahd bin Jalawi bin Abdulaziz bin Musaed, Vice President of the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee (SOPC), and Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Sultan, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Saudi Esports Federation (SEF). During the session, Abdulaziz bin Ahmed Baeshen, CEO and Secretary General of the SOPC, highlighted that Saudi Arabia’s hosting of the Olympic Esports Games starting in 2025 represents a historic step for Olympic sports and underscores the Kingdom’s leadership in the esports sector.

Context and Background

The New Global Sport Conference (NGSC) serves as a premier platform for discussing the future of sports, bringing together industry leaders, policymakers, and athletes. The session on esports transformation is particularly significant given the rapid growth of competitive gaming worldwide. In early January 2024, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced a 12-year partnership with the SOPC to organize the Olympic Esports Games in Saudi Arabia, beginning in 2025. This partnership will see multiple editions held in subsequent years, solidifying the Kingdom’s position as a global hub for esports. The initiative aligns with the National Gaming and Esports Strategy launched in 2022 by His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, which aims to position Saudi Arabia as a world leader in gaming and esports by 2030.

Key Details

During the dialogue session, Abdulaziz bin Ahmed Baeshen emphasized that the Olympic Esports Games provide an exceptional opportunity for esports players to represent their countries in 2025, promoting Olympic values to a new generation of players and audiences. He noted that the announcement marks a historic step for the growth and development of Olympic sports, underscoring the Kingdom’s leading position in this field. The session was attended by prominent figures including Prince Fahd bin Jalawi bin Abdulaziz bin Musaed and Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Sultan, highlighting the high-level commitment to advancing esports in Saudi Arabia and globally. The discussion also touched on how the merger of traditional Olympic values with esports aspirations can drive innovation and inclusivity in competitive gaming.

Implications and Impact

The hosting of the Olympic Esports Games in Saudi Arabia is set to have far-reaching implications for the global esports landscape. It will elevate the profile of esports as a legitimate sporting discipline, attract international investment, and create new opportunities for players, developers, and fans. Regionally, it reinforces Saudi Arabia’s role as a leader in sports diplomacy and innovation, aligning with the Kingdom’s broader efforts to diversify its economy and enhance its global soft power. The 12-year partnership with the IOC ensures a sustained impact, with multiple editions of the tournament expected to draw millions of viewers and participants worldwide. This initiative also complements Saudi Arabia’s recent history of hosting major international sporting events, further establishing the Kingdom as a preferred destination for global competitions.

Vision 2030 Alignment

The historic transformation of esports and the hosting of the Olympic Esports Games are directly aligned with Saudi Vision 2030, which seeks to diversify the economy, empower youth, and enhance quality of life. The National Gaming and Esports Strategy, a key component of Vision 2030, aims to create 39,000 jobs and contribute SAR 50 billion to GDP by 2030. By integrating Olympic values with esports, Saudi Arabia is not only shaping the future of sports but also inspiring a new generation to pursue excellence and global citizenship. This initiative exemplifies the Kingdom’s forward-looking leadership and its commitment to fostering innovation, inclusivity, and international collaboration in line with the aspirations of Vision 2030.

20 Questions

Q1. What was the title of the dialogue session held at the New Global Sport Conference?

A1. The dialogue session was titled “The Historic Transformation of Esports.” It took place on the first day of the New Global Sport Conference in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on August 24, 2024.

Q2. Who attended the dialogue session on esports transformation?

A2. The session was attended by Prince Fahd bin Jalawi bin Abdulaziz bin Musaed, Vice President of the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee (SOPC), and Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Sultan, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Saudi Esports Federation (SEF).

Q3. What did Abdulaziz bin Ahmed Baeshen emphasize during the session?

A3. Abdulaziz bin Ahmed Baeshen, CEO and Secretary General of the SOPC, emphasized that Saudi Arabia’s hosting of the Olympic Esports Games starting in 2025 is a historic step for Olympic sports and highlights the Kingdom’s leadership in esports.

Q4. When did the International Olympic Committee announce its partnership with the SOPC?

A4. The International Olympic Committee announced a 12-year partnership with the SOPC in early January 2024 to organize the Olympic Esports Games in Saudi Arabia, beginning in 2025.

Q5. What is the significance of the Olympic Esports Games for players?

A5. The Olympic Esports Games provide an exceptional opportunity for esports players to represent their countries in 2025, promoting Olympic values to a new generation of players and audiences worldwide.

Q6. How does the National Gaming and Esports Strategy relate to Vision 2030?

A6. The National Gaming and Esports Strategy, launched in 2022 by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, aims to position Saudi Arabia as a global leader in gaming and esports by 2030, contributing to economic diversification and job creation.

Q7. What is the duration of the partnership between the IOC and SOPC?

A7. The partnership between the International Olympic Committee and the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee is set for 12 years, with the first Olympic Esports Games in 2025 and additional editions in subsequent years.

Q8. Where was the New Global Sport Conference held?

A8. The New Global Sport Conference was held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. It brought together industry leaders to discuss the future of sports, including the historic transformation of esports.

Q9. What role does the Saudi Esports Federation play in this initiative?

A9. The Saudi Esports Federation, chaired by Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Sultan, supports the development of esports in the Kingdom and collaborates with the SOPC to host the Olympic Esports Games and advance the National Gaming and Esports Strategy.

Q10. How will hosting the Olympic Esports Games impact Saudi Arabia’s economy?

A10. Hosting the Olympic Esports Games is expected to boost economic diversification, attract international investment, create jobs, and enhance Saudi Arabia’s global standing as a hub for esports and sports tourism.

Q11. What are Olympic values, and how do they relate to esports?

A11. Olympic values include excellence, friendship, and respect. They relate to esports by promoting fair play, international cooperation, and the pursuit of greatness among a new generation of digital athletes.

Q12. Who launched the National Gaming and Esports Strategy?

A12. The National Gaming and Esports Strategy was launched in 2022 by His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia.

Q13. What is the expected number of editions for the Olympic Esports Games?

A13. The 12-year partnership ensures multiple editions of the Olympic Esports Games, with the first in 2025 and additional tournaments in subsequent years, reinforcing Saudi Arabia’s role as a global esports hub.

Q14. How does the dialogue session reflect Saudi Arabia’s leadership in esports?

A14. The dialogue session, attended by high-ranking officials, demonstrates Saudi Arabia’s commitment to advancing esports globally, merging Olympic values with modern gaming, and solidifying its position as a leader in the sector.

Q15. What opportunities does the Olympic Esports Games create for international collaboration?

A15. The Olympic Esports Games foster international collaboration by bringing together players, federations, and stakeholders from around the world to compete and share best practices under the Olympic banner.

Q16. How does the New Global Sport Conference contribute to the esports ecosystem?

A16. The New Global Sport Conference provides a platform for dialogue, networking, and knowledge exchange among global sports leaders, helping to shape the future of esports and traditional sports integration.

Q17. What is the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee’s role in the Olympic Esports Games?

A17. The SOPC, led by CEO Abdulaziz bin Ahmed Baeshen, partners with the IOC to organize the Olympic Esports Games in Saudi Arabia, ensuring alignment with Olympic standards and promoting the Kingdom’s sports vision.

Q18. When will the first Olympic Esports Games take place?

A18. The first Olympic Esports Games will take place in 2025 in Saudi Arabia, marking a historic milestone for both the Olympic movement and the global esports community.

Q19. How do the Olympic Esports Games promote youth engagement?

A19. The Olympic Esports Games engage youth by offering a platform for competitive gaming that resonates with digital-native audiences, encouraging participation in sports and promoting Olympic values among younger generations.

Q20. What does the historic transformation of esports mean for Saudi Arabia’s global role?

A20. The historic transformation of esports positions Saudi Arabia as a pioneer in merging traditional sports with digital innovation, enhancing its global influence, driving economic growth, and inspiring future generations in line with Vision 2030.

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