Photo: AFP/SPA
Eurasia
28/10/2023 05:47
The competition will be held annually in Riyadh starting summer 2024, a statement from Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said, according to CNA.
Clubs will compete across games from various genres to become the ultimate Esports World Cup champion, the statement said.
Sports, e-sports and gaming have been part of the crown prince's transformation plan, known as Vision 2030, in which the government is pouring hundreds of billions of dollars to diversify the kingdom's economy and reduce its reliance on oil.
Saudi Arabia's Savvy Games Group, owned by sovereign wealth fund PIF, said last year it will invest 142 billion riyals (US$37.8 billion) in initiatives aimed at making Saudi Arabia a global hub for gaming.
Under the plan, the kingdom aims to set up 250 games companies locally, which will create 39,000 jobs, and raise the sector's contribution to Saudi GDP to 50 billion riyals by 2030.
"The Esports World Cup is the natural next step in Saudi Arabia's journey to become the premier global hub for gaming and esports, offering an unmatched esports experience that pushes the boundaries of the industry," the crown prince was quoted in the statement as saying.
The competition will help achieve Vision 2030 objectives by boosting tourism, creating jobs and providing entertainment for residents and visitors, he added.
More than half of humanity's pre-modern inventions originated in China. But a few centuries ago, the Western world became the centre of innovation, and China seemed to stagnate for a long time. Today, however, all the indicators show that the West's dominance in this field has come to an end.
Digital trends sparked by the pandemic have fundamentally changed the way schools around the world operate. In developing countries, however, the digital revolution brought about by necessity has not only highlighted existing weaknesses in education systems, but has also widened the gap between students from different backgrounds.
A team of Chinese scientists are using artificial intelligence (AI) tech to accurately map out carbon emissions in big cities. This is an attempt that may help urban managers make more evidence-based plans in fighting global warming.