Preparations for Riyadh 2023 Global Esports Games accelerate, establishing the Organizing Committee

GEF’s African Esports Development Federation and Arab Esports Federation sign Afro-Arab Esports Cooperation Agreement to activate growth plans for esports

Riyadh is ready to host the Global Esports Games 2023 following the successful staging of two Global Esports Tour editions in 2021 and 2022.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is all set to host the Global Esports Federation’s flagship esports event – the Global Esports Games – in the nation’s capital city, Riyadh, in December 2023.

At the recent Global Esports Tour in Riyadh, GEF’s professional esports tournament staged at the Boulevard Riyadh City during the eight-week Gamers8 festival, the GEF and Saudi Esports Federation signed the agreement establishing the Organizing Committee and setting the pathway to the Riyadh 2023 Global Esports Games in December 2023.

“We are excited to host the Global Esports Games in Riyadh next year after successfully staging two editions of the Global Esports Tour. We are ready to welcome the world to Saudi Arabia and showcase our nation as a major esports powerhouse.”

~ HRH Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Sultan Al Saud,

President of the Saudi Esports Federation

Vice President of the Global Esports Federation

The Organizing Committee for Riyadh 2023 Global Esports Games was established to immediately commence planning for the Games. Ahmed Al-Bishri, Chief Operations Officer of Saudi Esports Federation, has been appointed as Chair of the Organizing Committee.

Meanwhile, the GEF has established the Afro-Arab Esports Cooperation Agreement with the Arab Esports Federation. T A Ganda (Tommy) Sithole, GEF Vice President and President of the GEF’s African Esports Development Federation (AEDF), and HRH Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Sultan Al Saud, who is also the President of the Arab Esports Federation (ARESF), were at the Global Esports Tour in Riyadh to sign the agreement.

T A Ganda Sithole, President of GEF’s African Esports Development Federation and President of the GEF’s African Esports Development Federation (left), and HRH Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Sultan Al Saud (right), President of Arab Esports Federation, signed the Afro-Arab Cooperation Agreement in Riyadh.

The Afro-Arab Esports Cooperation Agreement forms part of the GEF’s #worldconnected initiative and will see the AEDF and the ARESF collaborate to develop tangible initiatives that support the Afro-Arab region, and as a catalyst for esports development, social benefit, and change.

HRH Prince Faisal and Tommy Sithole jointly stated, “With the rapid rise in the popularity of gaming and esports participation in the region and across the world, we are confident that this agreement will further broaden our horizons and act as an accelerator of the sector’s growth.”

“The Global Esports Federation is committed to nurturing the growth and development of the esports community – enabling our #worldconnected community to thrive around the world. We are proud to see this partnership established, enhancing our commitment to our communities in the Afro-Arab region. It will also provide a framework for Development and Humanitarian support as part of our Global Social Impact Initiatives (GSII)."

~ Paul J. Foster, CEO of the GEF