Riyadh, Saudi Arabia — Esports is not just about gaming; it’s about connecting nations. Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Sultan Al Saud, Chairman of the Saudi Esports Federation and President of the International Esports Federation, believes that esports is strengthening ties between Saudi Arabia and China.
At the announcement ceremony of the Esports Asian Champions League, a new multi-genre tournament organized by VSPO, Prince Faisal shared his excitement about the innovative approach of the league. “With esports, so many tournaments are either online or offline. The innovation here is how we bring those two worlds together,” he said. “We are uniting regions that are the most advanced in esports, bringing together some of the best players in the world.”
The Esports Asian Champions League aims to bridge the gap between local and international competitions by integrating online arenas with virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and extended reality (XR) technologies. “It’s not just innovative; it’s a step towards the future of this industry,” Prince Faisal added.
Saudi Arabia has been actively investing in esports, hosting the inaugural Esports World Cup in Riyadh and investing $265 million in Shanghai-based VSPO through the Savvy Games Group. Chinese esports teams have also excelled globally for nearly a decade. These efforts are fostering greater collaboration between the two nations.
“Esports bridges different gaps,” Prince Faisal noted. “It’s a sport that brings together ministries of sport, athletes, and major events like the Asian Games and the Olympics. It also means tourism. We had a huge number of Chinese fans come to watch the Chinese teams play during the Esports World Cup.”
Tourism between Saudi Arabia and China is on the rise, with over 100,000 Chinese tourists visiting Saudi Arabia and 30,000 Saudis visiting China last year. “You have to create an interest, a spark,” he said. “Many young men and women who visited Saudi Arabia for esports may have discovered something interesting. Esports provides that first visit opportunity.”
Prince Faisal emphasized that esports is more than just entertainment; it’s a platform for cultural exchange and building relationships. As esports continues to grow, it holds the promise of uniting people across borders and fostering mutual understanding.
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Saudi esports chief: Esports enhance ties between Saudi Arabia, China
cgtn.com
