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.
U.S. President Trump announced on Tuesday a substantial investment in artificial intelligence infrastructure within the United States. The initiative will be funded through an American-Japanese-UAE joint venture known as the Stargate Project.
In October 2024, a delegation, from the Learning Institute of the Mathias Corvinus College (MCC) in Budapest embarked on a second fact-finding mission to China. This mission, part of the "Learning from Asia" (LfA) project, aimed to build on the insights gained during a similar tour in May 2023 and the "Learning from Asia in Education" international conference held in Budapest in October 2023.
Last year marked the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Hungary and China, and this year will bring the 50th anniversary of EU-China diplomatic ties. By the end of last year, Hungary’s presidency of the Council of the European Union closed in on boosting European competitiveness.