Gaming enters the sports world with fresh momentum: Saudi Arabia combines esports and conventional athletics
The 2025 New Global Sport Conference (NGSC) is taking place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with a theme that encapsulates the future of gaming, esports, and sports: "The Next Game - Building the Future of Gaming, Esports, and Sports."
Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Sultan, president of the Saudi Esports Federation, emphasised the key focus areas for the evolution of the global esports landscape during the conference. These three pillars driving transformation in esports are AI integration, athlete well-being, and education.
AI integration is set to revolutionise the esports industry by enabling teams to analyse data faster and more accurately. This allows coaches and players to focus more on strategy and performance adjustments rather than manual data crunching.
Athlete well-being is another crucial aspect, with a focus on holistic care for esports players. This includes physical health, mental well-being, and career sustainability, mirroring the support systems in traditional sports.
The fusion of gaming with education aims to build a sustainable future by blending esports skills development with educational opportunities. This move is expected to professionalise gaming and support long-term career paths.
Prince Faisal shared these insights during the conference held alongside the Esports World Cup, marking a strategic inflection point for the industry’s rapid evolution. Saudi Arabia's leadership role in shaping the global esports ecosystem is underscored by this event.
The Esports World Cup, the largest esports tournament on the planet, is being held concurrently with NGSC 2025. Last year, the tournament attracted more than 2.6 million visitors and had a $70 million prize pool.
Saudi Arabia is also rolling out esports programs across schools and universities. Initiatives like DigiPen at King Saud University and game art programs at Princess Nourah University are part of this effort to professionalise gaming and support long-term career paths.
Prince Faisal's ambition is to make Saudi Arabia a top destination for anyone pursuing a career in gaming or esports by 2030. He aspires to help esports athletes achieve iconic status similar to traditional sports legends, such as Michael Jordan in the NBA.
New partnerships with the Ministry of Education will expand esports leagues and curricula nationwide in Saudi Arabia. The Saudi Sports Academy and university programs aim to create a talent pipeline for game developers, analysts, marketers, and entrepreneurs, not just for esports athletes.
NGSC 2025 is an official media partner of Arab News, reflecting the growing importance of esports in the region. Prince Faisal expects to see memoranda of understanding signed and announcements made regarding investments and partnerships at NGSC 2025.
Saudi Arabia's location between East and West is symbolic, as the Kingdom is becoming a meeting point where ideas, cultures, and industries converge. Its gaming and esports vision is bold, inclusive, and forward-looking, with a focus on human-centric investments.
Events like NGSC 2025 are part of a larger vision to position Riyadh as the premier global hub for the gaming and sports industries. Prince Faisal shared a story of an 11-year-old chess prodigy who was inspired by meeting Magnus Carlsen at the Esports World Cup, symbolising Saudi Arabia's ambition to inspire a generation across various fields.
The evolution of the global esports landscape is being driven by three transformative forces: AI integration, the professionalization of esports athletes, and the fusion of gaming with education. NGSC 2025 and the Esports World Cup are seen as flagship platforms for Saudi Arabia in shaping the global esports landscape.
- The 2025 New Global Sport Conference (NGSC) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, focuses on the future of gaming, esports, and sports, with the theme "The Next Game - Building the Future of Gaming, Esports, and Sports."
- Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Sultan, president of the Saudi Esports Federation, emphasized that AI integration, athlete well-being, and education are the three pillars driving the evolution of the global esports landscape.
- AI integration will revolutionize the esports industry by enabling faster and more accurate data analysis, allowing coaches and players to focus on strategy and performance adjustments.
- Athlete well-being is another crucial aspect, with a focus on holistic care for esports players, including physical health, mental well-being, and career sustainability.
- The fusion of gaming with education aims to build a sustainable future by blending esports skills development with educational opportunities, professionalizing gaming and supporting long-term career paths.
- New partnerships with the Ministry of Education will expand esports leagues and curricula nationwide in Saudi Arabia, creating a talent pipeline for game developers, analysts, marketers, and entrepreneurs, not just for esports athletes.
- Prince Faisal's ambition is to make Saudi Arabia a top destination for anyone pursuing a career in gaming or esports by 2030, with a goal of helping esports athletes achieve iconic status similar to traditional sports legends.
