Paul Andrews’ Post

The Saudi Esports Federation family shares the delight, elation, and celebratory sense of excitement and pride felt by millions across our nation following the news that Saudi Arabia will host the first-ever Olympic Esports Games in 2025! Announced today by the International Olympic Committee – IOC, the historic decision to select Saudi Arabia as the outstanding candidate to host such a prestigious international event represents a moment in time that will forever be remembered. Inspired by our esteemed leadership and the transformational Vision 2030 framework, recent years have seen the Kingdom make remarkable progression towards becoming a global gaming and esports hub – progression which has, in turn, placed us on an unprecedented trajectory to today and being named hosts of the inaugural Olympic Esports Games. Whilst welcoming the world to Saudi shores for a series of high-profile international sporting events, the gaming and esports sector has been at the forefront of socio-economic growth and development at the national level – with genuine progress transpiring as a result. From ambitious talent and infrastructure development projects, to hosting world-class competitions and collaborating with partners and friends from across the global gaming and esports ecosystem, nothing has given us greater joy or satisfaction than becoming a vibrant and inclusive epicenter for gaming and esports. While unlocking the vast potential of this incomparable industry and empowering our people through previously unimaginable opportunities, we are committed to fulfilling our enduring pledge to be a place where every member of the international community can showcase their talent, pursue their passions, and realize their dreams in front of the world. With the Olympic Esports Games confirmed for 2025, we look forward to staging another historic event for the entire world to experience, embrace, and enjoy as present and future generations of esports athletes etch their names in history. #EsportsOlympics #Vision2030 #SaudiEsports #GamingCommunity #HistoricMoment

I've been collecting my thoughts on the recent news that Saudi Arabia will host the first Olympic Esports Games in 2025. 🎮🏅 This announcement is not just another event - it's shows how far our industry has come and the growing recognition of esports as a legitimate competitive discipline. As someone deeply embedded in the esports world through my time at Activision Blizzard and now Game Focus Consulting, I'm thrilled to see this level of integration between traditional sports and esports. The Olympic Esports Games will not only bring visibility to our industry but also pave the way for new opportunities and partnerships. Currently Saudi Arabia is also hosting the Esports World Cup, which has already been showcasing incredible talent and fostering international competition. These events do raise some interesting questions: 🤔 What does this mean for the future of esports as an Olympic discipline? 🤔 How will this impact the development and support for grassroots esports communities worldwide? 🤔 What new opportunities will grow for stakeholders within the esports ecosystem, including players, developers, and sponsors? The Esports World Cup has already set the stage, demonstrating the Saudi commitment to esports. You would have wonder how these two significant events may influence each other and what this means for the broader industry. Exciting times! #Esports #OlympicEsportsGames #GameFocusConsulting #EsportsWorldCup #SaudiArabia #EsportsOlympics

Last year, Singapore hosted the first ever Olympic Esports Week with a wide array of sports games, which caused loads of debate: is this actually esports? Here's my take: The approach from the International Olympic Committee – IOC is digital versions of current sports in their existing Olympic programme. Basketball, Baseball, and Rowing amongst others, but have also dared to do an exhibition match in Rocket League and Fortnite, which are games where top esports teams are represented with some of the very best players the games have to offer - something I would have thought impossible just a few years ago. As for the sports games, my view is that they're trying to pair up the physical aspects with gamification and are doing a great job at that. These games clearly don't have anywhere near the viewership or player base of the top games, but that's not the point. The point is to lean into a new world, finding the right balance between old and new. The venue itself was impressive, with loads of showcases on the different games and loads of immersive experiences to dive closer into. A big question has been; is this a push to claim esports as something else than what it is today? Definitely not. They're pushing a new sub-category, and at the same time they are already showing a willingness to put core esports games in the mix - that's a VERY good start in my eyes. I definitely view esports as filled arenas of DoTA2, League of Legends, CS2, Rocket League, Valorant, Rainbow Six etc, with top athletes and teams competing in front of tens of thousands of fans for the highest stakes there are. I also view esports as something that can grow without boundaries and can exist in many different formats and categories, so in reality, this new phase is definitely in the spirit of what gaming and esports truly is about; Something for everyone. Bringing esports truly into the mainstream is going to take time. It's two worlds trying to find common ground, which come from very different approaches and from very different times. Yet, there's so much potential in collaborating closer, and I believe that the Olympics leaning closer towards our lovely esports, is a great statement of the heavy momentum and innovation esports stands for. An esports gold medal at the Olympics? I mean come on, how cool would that be? Let's go! #esports #leadership #olympics #sports #gaming

Leading up to the @Paris 2024 Olympics, the International Olympic Committee – IOC finally announced the creation of the Olympic Esports Games, with the first edition to be held in 2025 in Saudi Arabia. Even though this move has been a long time coming, the 600 million global Esports fans are relieved. It certainly offers innovative branding opportunities, engaging content, and even more activations developing around organized video gaming events and tournaments. So, while celebrities are buying into all kinds of Esports clubs, the grandfathers of professional sport finally consider Esports to be mainstream. And elsewhere University studies indicate a need for balanced perspectives on the impact of technology on society… We will just be over here playing Call of Duty, blowing off some steam. #WeBringClarity #gobreakpoint

It’s official! In a truly historic announcement that captured the attention and imagination of game enthusiasts all around the world, Saudi Arabia was today confirmed as the host nation of the inaugural Olympic Esports Games by the International Olympic Committee – IOC   Set to take place next year in 2025, there’s no doubt that this brand-new event is destined to be a spectacle that reimagines gaming and esports as we know it. It will bring the entire global community even closer together as the spirit of elite competition and international cooperation shine bright while the world’s best athletes provide moments of esports excellence which entertain, delight, and inspire.   For countless generations, the Olympic Games has been widely considered as the grandest stage in all of sport. Each edition captives the entire world – with people from all cultures, backgrounds, races, and religions watching and competing. They represent something truly special and spectacular – an occasion where the world comes together to watch moments of magnificence that epitomize talent, teamwork, dedication, and belief in one’s abilities to fulfill their dreams and aspirations.   Like the many lifelong game enthusiasts out there, it’s my sincere belief that the Olympic Esports Games will have a similar influence and impact.   After all, why not? Esports – the new global sport – has taken the entire world by storm, morphing into a modern-day phenomenon where opportunities are there like never before for athletes to compete, excel, and succeed. The Olympic Esports Games will continue this legacy – while simultaneously becoming a new major international sporting event that is very much here to stay.   For the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the opportunity to host an event of this magnitude – one with such positive implications for the future – is a proud and humbling moment.   In line with Vision 2030 and our commitment to welcoming the world to Saudi shores for international events that promote social and cultural diversification and inclusion through sport, we look forward to the honor and privilege of hosting the first-ever Olympic Esports Games.   Years from now, gamers will tell the tale of ‘where I was’ and ‘what I was doing’ when the inaugural Olympic Esports Games were announced. I will most certainly experience the same conversation many times in the years ahead – conversations that also include how amazing the events themselves were.   The Olympic Esports Games will, indeed, be exactly that: amazing.   And exactly like the countless millions of gamers out there, I cannot wait.   #EsportsOlympics #Vision2030 #SaudiEsports #GamingCommunity #HistoricMoment

Exciting to see that the first-ever Olympic Esports Games will be hosted in Saudi Arabia in 2025! 🎮 This event is a game-changer for #esports and is a notable milestone in the global growth of digital experiences generally as cutting technology enables a new class of entertainment and competition. Years from now, we will look back at the first Olympic Esports Games as a tipping point in the mainstream adoption of digital experiences, and we at Zilliqa are excited to be building on this growth by delivering the customisable and easy-to-use blockchain infrastructure that will power the applications and digital experiences of the future. Let the countdown to 2025 begin! 🎉 #OlympicEsportsGames #Gaming #Vision2030 #Zilliqa #Blockchain

As recently announced by the International Olympic Committee – IOC and the Saudi NOC, and as promoted by HRH Faisal bin Bandar bin Sultan, The IOC has announced that the #Olympic #Esports Games will be hosted in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This is a monumental step that integrates the world's most prestigious sports organization into the Esports ecosystem. Saudi Arabia is quickly becoming a central hub for global Esports, ushering in a new era where Riyadh and potentially other cities like Qiddiya are becoming key locations for Esports events and business. After 15 years of various stakeholders attempting this, it’s Saudi Arabia’s strategic and decisive approach that has made it a reality. While regions like South Korea and European countries such as Denmark, Germany and Sweden have historically led the Esports landscape, Saudi Arabia's initiatives are creating a new Esports renaissance. Despite some industry criticism, it's evident that the Esports community must adapt to this new reality. The Middle East is becoming increasingly influential, with Europe and East Asia may be catching up due to growing governmental interest, while North America is falling behind. I expect these developments to lead to further development of the domestic Esports ecosystems in the Middle East (especially within the Arab world), leading to better-performing players and clubs on the international stage in the next 10 years. As the Esports landscape evolves, it's crucial for all industry stakeholders to embrace these changes and seize the opportunities they present.

This is a huge moment for the future of Esports. 🔹 The recognition of Esports by the International Olympic Committee – IOC as a sport will be huge for the future of it as a sustainable long-term industry globally. The trickle-down effect of how this will affect all areas of the competitive gaming world could be the most progressive movement within the industry we have ever seen. 🔸 The question now posed is how Esports will be treated in this upcoming event. Will we see video games of all varieties represented? Or is it possible that we see the more commercially friendly titles get their opportunity, potentially even just video game variations of already existing sports? This is an important question to ask for many Esports enthusiasts out there, particularly for people more in my area of expertise of Call of Duty. Will we see a more "adult" genre of esports get represented through Call of Duty, Valorant, Fortnite, etc, or will we see any form of gun violence titles get shunned from the spotlight in fear of negative media attention? 🔹 It is my opinion that an event such as this one, similar to the Esports World Cup Foundation event taking place right now, needs to be representative of the current Esports industry, rather than trying to act as if only a certain portion of it exists. If this can happen, we could see Esports finally find its footing within countries on an individual level, with reasonable cause to create institutions within grassroots levels, to facilitate the growth of Esports ecosystems of all varieties and create national talents. My Call of Duty Ireland Organisation could use this terrific opportunity to pioneer Irish Talent.

⏪ Esports: A week in review It is that time again ladies and gentlemen, so please, allow me to bring you up to speed with some of the biggest stories from the world of esports this past week; 🥇 🎙The International Olympic Committee – IOC Board has announced it will be officially be opening discussions around the creation of the Olympic Esports Games in the next IOC Session, set to take place during the Paris 2024 games. Reports say that the IOC are already in advanced talks with a potential host. 🌍 ⚔ The Esports World Cup has added 2 final competitions to its already impressive roster of games. We will now also see teams compete across Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 as well as Call of Duty: Warzone. With the EWC set to kick off July 3rd, teams will compete across 21 fan-favourites. 🏆 🤝 The Esports Awards has entered a 3-year partnership with the Esports World Cup Foundation. Fittingly, the Esports Awards will host a ceremony on the 24th of August in Riyadh, which will celebrate all corners of esports; clubs, athletes, content creators, games and more. 📱 🤝 MOONTON GAMES builds on its partnership with Saudi super-city, Qiddiya | القدية, to develop the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) ecosystem. Qiddiya | القدية were the presenting sponsor of the M5 World Championship back in December, and are looking to grow it’s involvement within the series through more online and offline activations, broadcast segments and other unforgettable experiences. 🍜 🤝 Following on from their partnership with BLAST announced last week, Unilever’s PotNoodle has teamed up with Fnatic. The partnership has a focus on activating during the BLAST Spring Finals through a co-created booth at the tournament; which will include giveaways, meet and greets and 1v1 tournaments. ✅ I hope you’re now a little more informed as we find ourselves in a rapidly growing esports world. Enjoy the rest of your week and as always, the biggest GG comes from me to you! #esports #esportsnews #esportspartnerships #gg

A crazy 2 months run of #EWC is happening soon in #Riaydh. Looking forward to witness this mega big event, on top of #olympicgames experience! #sportpsychology #performancecoach #dota2 #mlbb #esportpsychology