The second edition of the New Global Sport Conference 2024 (NGSC24) kicked off on Saturday in Riyadh. Running for two days under the theme “The Future of Fandom,” the conference aims to explore the latest trends and strategies in sports and esports, with a focus on enhancing fan engagement and building passionate global communities.
On the first day of the conference, a session titled “Gaming and Sports as the Kingdom’s Gateway to the World” was held. The session was attended by the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Saudi Esports Federation (SEF), Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Sultan; Minister of Communications and Information Technology, Eng. Abdullah bin Amer Al-Swaha; Assistant Minister of Sports for Sports Affairs, Adwa Al-Arifi; Chief Executive Officer of Savvy Games Group, Brian Ward; Chief Executive Officer of Gen.G Esports, Arnold Hur; and Chairman of the Advisory Board for Gaming and Esports at Qiddiya city, Mike Milanov.
Another session, titled ‘How Esports is Shaping the Next Chapter of
Olympic History,’ discussed the historic steps taken by the gaming and esports sector to align with the broader sports industry. Participants in this session included Vice President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Ser Miang Ng; an IOC member, Chair of the IOC Esports Commission, and President of the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), David Lappartient; Chief Executive Officer and Secretary General of the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee (SOPC), Abdulaziz Baeshen; and Chief Executive Officer at the Esports World Cup Foundation, Ralf Reichert.
The conference also featured four other sessions with speakers from leading entrepreneurs, experts, and global CEOs in esports, sports, technology, entertainment, business, investment, and more.
The activities and events of NGSC24 will continue on Sunday, featuring six additional sessions. These sessions will focus on the positive impact of esports on other industries and how the esports sector has evolved from a niche subculture into a global ph
enomenon, creating a ripple effect beyond the gaming world.
With over 3.4 billion people engaging in gaming worldwide and approximately 234 million esports players, the world of esports is no longer just a specialized hobby but a global phenomenon. It is transforming traditional sectors and driving change in strategic planning, investment, broadcasting rights, sponsorship, marketing, event management, and more.
Under the umbrella of Saudi Vision 2030, the Kingdom has become one of the first countries to implement a comprehensive national strategy for gaming and esports. This reflects its commitment to leadership and innovation in this evolving industry and underscores the Kingdom’s ambitious vision to solidify its position at the forefront of the global gaming and esports scene, enhancing its leadership on the world stage.
Source: Saudi Press Agency