The Saudi Esports Federation (SEF) and King Saud University Medical City (KSUMC) announced this week the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for a three-year initiative aimed at esports players in the region.
Financial terms (if any) were not disclosed, as both are government-backed entities.
While full details of this initiative were not revealed at press time, one of the core focuses of the new partnership will be in creating research into anti-doping in esports, the importance of physical activity for esports athletes, and preventing and managing physical injuries and mental health issues.
“The Memorandum of Understanding between the Saudi Esports Federation and King Saud University Medical City positions Saudi Arabia as a global leader in esports governance and integrating health and wellness into esports,” His Royal Highness Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Sultan, chairman of the Saudi Esports Federation (SEF), said in a release. “The words innovative and groundbreaking are often overused but it is impossible to overstate how important this MoU could be for implementing physical and mental wellbeing initiatives not just in our nation, but in our industry. This is particularly prevalent considering that there remains a lingering public perception among some that gaming is an unhealthy pastime.”
The goal of the research is to first establish what anti-doping is as it relates to esports–what substances might be being used and why—and how to combat it. What was not disclosed is what the penalties might be for doping within the region, and if they could be as heavy-handed as other punishments such as speaking out against government policies on social media.
The MoU is a part of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and its National Gaming and Esports Strategy. This work, they claim, is part of its initiative to make the country a global hub for the gaming industry by 2030.
Ultimately the Kingdom hopes these new initiatives will “help encourage healthy practices among gamers not just in Saudi Arabia,” but also “the wider world.”
Finally, the MoU will assist all those in the SEF Career Pathway Strategy, part of the SEF Academy and the member clubs in Saudi Arabia.
The Saudi Esports Federation is operated by HRH Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Sultan, who is also an executive member of the International Esports Federation, Global Esports Federation, and is spearheading efforts related to the Olympic Esports Games, which will take place within the Kingdom for the next 12 years.
Projects related to the Saudi Arabian government are frequently criticized for helping the government engage in what is called “sports washing,” or using various forms of sport and entertainment to cover up its record on human rights, women’s rights, LGTBQ+ rights, military actions in Yemen, and more. These and other criticisms are actively highlighted by international watchdog groups such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch.