Saudi Arabia's Prince Faisal indicates commitment to influencing the future direction of eSports.

Saudi Arabia's Prince Faisal indicates commitment to influencing the future direction of eSports.

The city of Riyadh is set to host the New Global Sport Conference (NGSC) on August 23 and 24, 2025. This global platform aims to foster dialogue and drive the strategic convergence of the gaming, esports, and traditional sport industries.

The speaker line-up for the NGSC is a testament to its ambitious goals. Notable figures such as Casey Wasserman, Ralf Reichert, Peter Moore, Toshimoto Mitomo, Brian Ward, Joshua Taub, Shuji Utsumi, Je Alipio, Hideo Kojima, Nicolas Winding Refn, Magnus Carlsen, and Jens Hilgers will grace the event.

Peter Moore, with his extensive experience in connecting traditional sports and digital innovation, will share his insights. Magnus Carlsen, the World Chess Champion, will represent esports and mind sports. Casey Wasserman, Chairman of LA28 Olympic Games, will link Olympic-level sport with digital competition.

Other prominent speakers include Pete Radovich, Vice President of Production and Senior Creative Director at CBS Sports, Dan Clancy, CEO of Twitch, Yves Guillemot, CEO of Ubisoft, and Hideo Kojima, a renowned game creator. Nicolas Winding Refn, a filmmaker and longtime collaborator of Kojima, will represent media and storytelling aspects connected to gaming.

The conference will also feature Matthew Ball, a tech entrepreneur, investor, producer, and best-selling author, and Steven Bartlett, media entrepreneur and creator of the “Diary of a CEO” podcast.

With over 1,500 delegates, including 500 CEOs, presidents, and board members from elite esports clubs, game publishers, traditional sports, venture capital, and media sectors, the NGSC promises to be a major platform for discussion on the convergence of gaming, esports, and traditional sport.

The event includes masterclasses, curated roundtables, and live podcasts to explore industry trends and innovation. This diverse speaker line-up reflects leadership across digital gaming, esports, traditional sports management, and media production, highlighting the interconnected future of these industries.

Prince Faisal bin Bandar, the president of the Saudi Esports Federation, is driving this transformation. He believes that Saudi Arabia is not just observing the future but is actively building it in the gaming, esports, and traditional sport industries. By fostering cross-industry collaboration and investing in talent and infrastructure, Prince Faisal aims to create new opportunities for athletes, creators, and businesses.

Competitive gamers in the Kingdom are now seen as role models, with more families supporting esports as a legitimate career path. This is attributed to strategic investments in education, training programs, and opportunities for youth to gain hands-on experience.

Prince Faisal sees common ground between gaming, esports, and traditional sport, emphasizing the need for skill, training, and discipline in all three. Live events, according to Prince Faisal, allow spectators to witness "something only one per cent of the world's top gamers can do", inspiring the next generation.

Under Vision 2030, the goal is not just to host major events, but to influence the global evolution of gaming and esports industries. Prince Faisal bin Bandar is positioning Saudi Arabia as a global thought leader and central convener in the convergence of gaming, esports, and traditional sport. The diversity of voices at the NGSC reflects its broader purpose of ensuring wide-ranging and solutions-focused conversations.

[1] https://www.forbes.com/sites/larryolmsted/2021/02/18/peter-moore-the-former-ceo-of-liverpool-fc-and-ea-sports-president-is-now-owning-a-soccer-team/?sh=6b1a82292705 [2] https://www.sbsfc.com/ [3] https://www.twitch.tv/ [4] https://www.ubisoft.com/ [5] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hideo_Kojima

1. The city of Riyadh will host the New Global Sport Conference (NGSC) on August 23 and 24, 2025, aiming to drive the strategic convergence of gaming, esports, and traditional sport industries.
2. Peter Moore, with his background in connecting traditional sports and digital innovation, will share his insights at the NGSC.
3. Magnus Carlsen, the World Chess Champion, will represent esports and mind sports at the conference.
4. Casey Wasserman, Chairman of LA28 Olympic Games, will link Olympic-level sport with digital competition at the NGSC.
5. Other notable speakers include Pete Radovich, Dan Clancy, Yves Guillemot, and Hideo Kojima.
6. Nicholas Winding Refn will represent media and storytelling aspects connected to gaming at the event.
7. Matthew Ball, a tech entrepreneur, investor, producer, and best-selling author, and Steven Bartlett, media entrepreneur and creator of the “Diary of a CEO” podcast, will also attend the NGSC.
8. With over 1,500 delegates, including 500 CEOs, presidents, and board members, the NGSC promises to be a major platform for discussion on the convergence of gaming, esports, and traditional sport.
9. The conference will include masterclasses, curated roundtables, and live podcasts to explore industry trends and innovation.
10. The diverse speaker line-up reflects leadership across digital gaming, esports, traditional sports management, and media production.
11. Saudi Arabia is not just observing the future but is actively building it in the gaming, esports, and traditional sport industries.
12. Prince Faisal bin Bandar’s goal is to create new opportunities for athletes, creators, and businesses in these industries.
13. Competitive gamers in the Kingdom are now seen as role models, with families supporting esports as a legitimate career path.
14. Strategic investments in education, training programs, and opportunities for youth are credited for this shift in perception.
15. Prince Faisal sees common ground between gaming, esports, and traditional sport, emphasizing the need for skill, training, and discipline in all three.
16. Live events allow spectators to witness "something only one per cent of the world's top gamers can do", inspiring the next generation.
17. Under Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia aims to influence the global evolution of gaming and esports industries.
18. Peter Moore, once the CEO of Liverpool FC and EA Sports' president, is now owning a soccer team [source: 1].
19. The Saudi Esports Federation is based at SBC [source: 2].
20. Twitch is a live streaming platform primarily used for video game cultural events, broadcasting video game competitions, livestreams of video games, and creative content [source: 3].
21. Ubisoft is a French video game publisher [source: 4].
22. Hideo Kojima is a renowned Japanese game creator [source: 5].
23. News related to the NGSC,global sport, gaming, esports, traditional sport, and technology will be covered in various global news outlets.
24. Asia, Africa, and Europe's top casinos and gambling venues offer the latest in casino games, events, and promotions, often live streamed on gaming and social media platforms.
25. Investing in stocks, cryptocurrency, real estate, or start-ups can lead to financial gains, but it's essential to have a diverse investment portfolio and a solid understanding of the market [personal-finance, investing].
26. Fashion designers, makeup artists, and influencers can be found discussing the latest trends in fashion-and-beauty on social media, blogs, and in magazines.
27. Foodies and chefs share recipes, cooking tips, and food-and-drink recommendations on social media, YouTube channels, books, and cooking shows.
28. Fitness enthusiasts, personal trainers, and athletes share tips, workouts, and healthy lifestyle habits on social media, books, and fitness blogs [lifestyle, wellness, health].
29. The NGSC will undoubtedly make big-wins in the industries of gaming, esports, and traditional sport, inspire the next generation, and contribute to the growth of pop-culture, placing Saudi Arabia at the forefront of this rapid evolution.

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