Esports World Cup: Saudi Arabia is rapidly positioning itself as a dominant force in the world of esports. Recent strategic partnerships with both the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and key Chinese players have solidified the country’s ambition to become the premier global stage for international esports competitions.
The Esports World Cup’s contracts with the Olympics and VSPO
The kingdom’s most significant move came with a 12-year agreement to host the Olympic Esports Games starting in 2025. This decision follows years of exploratory efforts by the IOC including regional esports events at the Asian and Commonwealth Games as well as the Olympic Virtual Series.
While these earlier attempts primarily featured sports simulation games they struggled to captivate a wider eSports audience.
The upcoming Olympic Esports Games likely to be hosted in Saudi Arabia’s planned entertainment city Qiddiya present a new opportunity to engage esports enthusiasts. Details about the event are still limited, but the partnership with the IOC undeniably brings a new level of prestige and visibility to the esports world.
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Simultaneously, Saudi Arabia’s Esports World Cup Foundation has forged a strong alliance with Chinese media giant China Media Group (CMG) and tournament organizer VSPO. This collaboration aims to jointly organize and participate in future esports events expanding the reach and influence of the Esports World Cup.
Interestingly, VSPO already has a history with both the Esports World Cup and the IOC, having organized the Olympic Esports Week and esports events at the Asian Games. The company’s close ties to Saudi Arabia evident through a substantial investment from the kingdom’s Public Investment Fund, further strengthen the country’s esports ecosystem.
With these strategic partnerships in place, Saudi Arabia is poised to become the epicenter of international esports competitions. The combination of the Olympic platform and the involvement of major Chinese players creates a powerful synergy that could reshape the global esports landscape. As the country continues to invest heavily in esports infrastructure and development its influence in the industry is set to grow exponentially.
While the future of esports looks dynamic Saudi Arabia’s aggressive dominance in the sector is undeniable. The world will be watching closely as the kingdom transforms its vision into reality.
Saudi Arabian Ministery Said:
Over 23 million people play video games in our youthful country, according to Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Sport, Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Faisal. “Our kingdom has become a major professional esports powerhouse worldwide. For our young athletes, our nation, and the international esports community, this is a logical next step.
