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  • How sports is inspiring Saudis to defy restrictive norms and expectations

    In August 2023, the Saudi Sports for All Federation (SFA) launched the Museum of Extinct Mobility, a virtual reality experience that alerted Saudis to what a dystopian motionless life would look like if they were to continue with a sedentary lifestyle. Over 14,000 participants engaged with the virtual museum in just one month, and what has become an awakening campaign succeeded in driving 710,000 actions and sparking vital conversations about physical activity.

  • Top US consultancies face scrutiny over role in Saudi Arabia’s sports push

    Major US consultancies who have advised Saudi Arabia on its global sports spending spree – including its proposed takeover of golf’s PGA Tour – are coming under fire in Washington for possible violations of federal disclosure laws. Four prominent consulting firms, including McKinsey, have been accused of refusing to fully comply with subpoenas for information about their work for the oil-rich kingdom by the Senate permanent subcommittee on investigations. The Senate panel has been conducting an inquiry into authoritarian governments’ efforts to deploy soft power and other influence strategies in the US.

  • Saudi-Backed Esports Firm to Run New ‘Overwatch’ Competitions

    The series replaces the Overwatch League, an attempt by Activision Blizzard, now owned by Microsoft, to run city-based teams where fans could cheer their local franchises much as they do with football or baseball. After the league failed to live up to its ambitions, Activision Blizzard offered team owners $6 million each to exit — or $114 million. ESL is part of the Savvy Games Group, a video-game unit of the Saudi sovereign wealth fund.

  • E-Sports in Saudi Arabia receives $45 million investment

    The rapidly growing gaming market in Saudi Arabia has received a huge boost after Dubai-based e-sports brand, True Gamers, signed a franchise deal worth $45 million with investment firm, Falak, reports Meed. The investment will involve the creation of 150 e-sports clubs across Saudi and seeks to capitalize on a market that is expected to expand by over 8% annually over the next three years, eventually meeting a market value of $1.3 billion by 2027.

  • Saudi-Backed Esports Firm to Run New ‘Overwatch’ Competitions

    ESL will operate the Overwatch Champions Series in North America, Europe, the Middle East and Africa starting in February. A Korean esports company, WDG, will run a circuit in Asia, where many professional Overwatch players live. A new “open” format will allow high-level players to compete regardless of whether they are amateur or professional. The series replaces the Overwatch League, an attempt by Activision Blizzard, now owned by Microsoft, to run city-based teams where fans could cheer their local franchises much as they do with football or baseball. After the league failed to live up to its ambitions, Activision Blizzard offered team owners $6 million each to exit — or $114 million.

  • The real reason the Saudi government is investing in sports. Hint: It’s not to impress you.

    If Americans persist in seeing Saudi sports investments primarily as “sportswashing,” they will be scoring own goals. The Saudis will not end their investments in this sector or in many other sectors of the US economy, such as the 60 percent stake it holds in Lucid Motors or its significant investments in Activision Blizzard and Uber. Instead, US-Saudi tensions will cause rifts among athletes, sponsors, and fans, and may preclude cooperation that could be a win-win.

  • Saudi Arabia sports push embraces snooker, with a golden ball

    Saudi Arabia will hold its first major invitational snooker event in March as the kingdom continues to make sizable investments into a growing number of sports. The “Riyadh Season World Masters of Snooker” will take place between March 4 to March 6 at Boulevard Arena in the capital of Riyadh. The inaugural event will feature some of the world’s top snooker players, including Ronnie O’Sullivan — widely recognized as one of the most talented players in the sport’s history — 2019 world champion Judd Trump and 2023 world champion Luca Brecel.

  • The real reason the Saudi government is investing in sports. Hint: It’s not to impress you.

    Understanding the changes occurring in Saudi Arabia is critical for US policymakers and American companies, especially since more big Saudi sports investments are likely around the corner and Riyadh is part of a changing “middle power” geopolitical landscape. The negotiations around the PGA/LIV merger passed a December 31, 2023 deadline but are continuing, with reports that US investors may join the new entity.

  • Saudi Arabia’s Sports Profile Shows No Signs of Slowing

    Saudi Arabia’s fast-growing power as a sports market is now even more evident, as the country has formed a relationship with one of tennis’s all-time greats and could get an improved UFC event later this year. Rafael Nadal, a 22-time major tournament winner, has signed on as an ambassador for the Saudi Tennis Federation. Nadal will promote tennis in the country and plans to build an academy there. The move arrives as Saudi Arabia continues to face widespread scrutiny for its widely rebuked human rights record and accusations of sportswashing. “Everywhere you look in Saudi Arabia, you can see growth and progress, and I’m excited to be part of that,” Nadal said. “I want to help the sport grow far and wide across the world, and in Saudi [sic] there is real potential.”

  • HRH Reema Bandar Al-Saud Chairs the Women’s Sports Committee Meeting

    HRH Reema Bandar Al-Saud, member of Board of Directors at the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee, chaired the third meeting of the current cycle of the Women’s Sports Committee today in Prince Faisal bin Fahad’s Olympic Complex in Riyadh. The meeting reviewed the committee’s activities for the past year of 2023, and discussed the action plan for 2024. The recommendations from the meeting will be presented to SOPC’s board in its upcoming meeting. The Women’s Sports Committee was reapproved by SOPC’s Board during its last meeting in June, with HRH Princess Reema Bint Bandar ALSAUD as the chair and Adhwa Al-Arifi, Dr.Khalid Alyahya, Abeer Al-Fouti, Fahad Al-Haqbani, Samia Jabarti, Dr Maha Bin Yousef Senior Advisor to HRH the president of Committee, Dr.Lana bin Saeed, and Andrew Hibbert, as members, along with committee secretary Moudy Al-Sudairy.

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