Riyadh: American skateboarding legend Tony Hawk expressed great admiration for the scale and organization of the Esports World Cup 2025 in Riyadh, stating that what he witnessed exceeded his expectations and marked a significant leap for global events in the Middle East and North Africa. 'This is my first visit to the Kingdom to attend the Esports World Cup 2025, and I was surprised by the scale of the event,' he said.

According to Saudi Press Agency, Hawk also expressed interest in exploring the skateboarding culture in Saudi Arabia, praising the growing enthusiasm for the sport within the local community and noting the Kingdom's strong potential, particularly in skateboarding and action sports in general. Moreover, Hawk noted similarities between skateboarding and esports, highlighting their shared potential to offer promising professional and economic opportunities. He also pointed to the rapid global growth of the gaming and esports landscape as a key transformation.

He further highlighted the success of the Tony Hawk's Pro Skater video game series, which became one of the most popular and influential gaming franchises globally, helping cement skateboarding's place in youth culture. Additionally, he confirmed that a new edition was recently released-an updated version of the third and fourth editions launched over 20 years ago-featuring enhanced visuals, realistic movements, and vibrant settings that reflect the inclusive and global nature of skateboarding.