New Global Sports Conference 2024: Exploring Fan Engagement In Esports And Sports

The New Global Sports Conference 2024 (NGSC24) commenced on Saturday in Riyadh. The two-day event, themed "The Future of Fandom," aims to delve into the latest trends and strategies in sports and esports, focusing on enhancing fan engagement and building passionate global communities.

On the first day, a session titled "Gaming and Sports as the Kingdom’s Gateway to the World" took place. Key attendees included Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Sultan, Chairman of the Saudi Esports Federation (SEF); Eng. Abdullah bin Amer Al-Swaha, Minister of Communications and Information Technology; Adwa Al-Arifi, Assistant Minister of Sports for Sports Affairs; Brian Ward, CEO of Savvy Games Group; Arnold Hur, CEO of Gen.G Esports; and Mike Milanov, Chairman of the Advisory Board for Gaming and Esports at Qiddiya city.

Another significant session was "How Esports is Shaping the Next Chapter of Olympic History." This discussion highlighted historic steps taken by the gaming sector to align with broader sports industries. Participants included Ser Miang Ng, Vice President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC); David Lappartient, an IOC member and Chair of the IOC Esports Commission; Abdulaziz Baeshen, CEO and Secretary General of the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee (SOPC); and Ralf Reichert, CEO at the Esports World Cup Foundation.

The conference featured four additional sessions with speakers from various fields such as esports, technology, entertainment, business, investment, and more. These sessions aimed to explore how esports has evolved from a niche subculture into a global phenomenon impacting other industries.

With over 3.4 billion people engaging in gaming worldwide and approximately 234 million esports players, esports is no longer just a specialized hobby but a global phenomenon. It is transforming traditional sectors like strategic planning, investment, broadcasting rights, sponsorships, marketing, event management, among others.

Saudi Vision 2030: Leading in Gaming

Under Saudi Vision 2030's umbrella, Saudi Arabia has implemented a comprehensive national strategy for gaming and esports. This reflects its commitment to leadership in this evolving industry. The Kingdom aims to solidify its position at the forefront of global gaming and esports scenes.

The activities at NGSC24 will continue on Sunday with six more sessions focusing on esports' positive impact on other industries. These sessions will further discuss how esports has created a ripple effect beyond gaming.

The conference underscores Saudi Arabia's ambition to enhance its leadership on the world stage through innovation in gaming and esports.

With inputs from SPA