Saudi Arabia announces Esports World Cup

Sports Writer A. Isaac McGill says summer 2024 brings the largest prize pool of Esports.
Next summer, gamers from around the world will have the opportunity to compete in the world’s first Esports World Cup, hosted by Saudi Arabia. Mohammad bin Salman, the crown prince, prime minister and authoritarian leader of Saudi Arabia announced the plans on Oct. 23, 2023. Salman is known for his interest in video games and the country has had a foothold in the gaming industry in the past, with its 2023 Gamers8 event having the largest prize pool of any esports event in history, at $45 million. The new World Cup is replacing Gamers8 and will be on a much larger scale with a new record-breaking prize pool, though an exact number has not been revealed. Salman has stated that the event is “the next step in Saudi Arabia’s journey to become the premier global hub for gaming and esports.”
This move by the Saudi Arabian government is part of their Saudi Vision 2030 project, a large-scale endeavor for social and economic improvement. The government aims to reduce the economy’s dependence on oil by entering other fields. Restrictions on tourism have been relaxed in the past years to bring in outside revenue. The technology sector is of high priority to them, and the government has worked to bring the tech industry to Saudi Arabia.
In 2017, the advanced humanoid robot Sophia gained full Saudi Arabian citizenship, the first time a government recognized a robot as a citizen. Saudi Arabia has also prioritized becoming a player in the sports industry, with their heavy investments in soccer, including reaching a deal with famous soccer player Cristiano Ronaldo. Their World Cup plans will combine tourism, sports and technology, which could result in a bolstering of their economy. Saudi Arabia has promised heavy investments in esports, an estimated $38 billion, but expects to bring in much revenue and create many jobs in return.
People have criticized the announcement of the World Cup as the latest example of “sportswashing,” the practice of promoting sports to divert attention from controversial subjects. Saudi Arabia is under fire for their authoritarian government, violation of human rights and discrimination of women and other groups. Since Salman achieved political control of the nation, dozens of dissidents have been arrested or executed for speaking out against the government. Hundreds of people per year are arrested for homosexual acts. Women are denied rights given to men and have to submit to men’s decisions in marriage, divorce, healthcare and travel. Many people view the Esports World Cup as nothing more than an attempt to improve the Saudi Arabian reputation against their publicized atrocities.
There are many questions about how the Esports World Cup will go down. Many details have yet to be revealed, including the games featured. Concerns over the safety of guests have been raised. In the United States Travel Advisory, Saudi Arabia was given a three out of four, meaning Americans are advised to “Reconsider Travel.” Yet despite the doubts and disapproval from many parts of the world, Salman and the government of Saudi Arabia are heavily invested in making this event successful.