Latest news with #OlympicEsportsGames
Biz Bahrain
08-07-2025
- Business
- Biz Bahrain
Middle East Emerges as Global Sports Powerhouse, Unlocking Billions in Value and Opportunity
The Middle East is fast becoming one of the most influential players in global sports, according to global management consultancy Kearney's latest report, From passion to profit: unlocking value in sports. With the region experiencing a rapid and sustained growth rate across key segments, it is emerging as a major force in the global sports industry, driving innovation and investment that are reshaping the sector's future. With the global sports market expected to reach $600+ billion by 2030, the region is driving a transformation fueled by strategic investment, forward-looking policy, and technology-enabled innovation. Saudi Arabia, in particular, is emerging as a global benchmark, combining world-class hosting with systemic reform and sector-wide development. The momentum is visible across multiple fronts. On the global stage, the region has solidified its reputation as a premier destination for high-profile events: hosting everything from the FIFA World Cup in Qatar and the Bahrain Grand Prix to the Dubai Tennis Championships and soon, the Olympic Esports Games in Saudi Arabia. These events are not just about spectacle; they signal a strategic effort to position the region at the heart of global sporting calendars. Behind the scenes, infrastructure investment is accelerating. Governments across the Middle East are committing billions to develop next-generation stadiums, elite training academies, and integrated digital platforms. Saudi Arabia has allocated significant budgets toward sports infrastructure as part of its Vision 2030 agenda, while the UAE and Qatar continue to grow their ecosystems for high-performance sports and global talent attraction. Following an announcement by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, Dubai will host the inaugural World Sports Summit in December 2025, further reinforcing the region's growing influence on the global sports stage. The region is also pushing hard into digital-native sectors, with esports emerging as a focal point. Saudi Arabia's $38 billion investment to become a global hub for gaming is emblematic of a wider regional effort to tap into younger demographics through streaming, immersive content, and competitive gaming platforms. This youth-centric focus is being mirrored in broader fan engagement strategies across the ME. Women's participation is another key area of growth. New professional women's football leagues in the UAE, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia are expanding access and visibility, while initiatives across schools and communities are driving higher levels of inclusion. In Saudi Arabia alone, female participation in sport has increased by 150% since the launch of Vision 2030, an indicator of how deeply sports are being woven into the region's social fabric. Kearney's report highlights five key growth levers that organizations can use capture a greater share of future growth: • Commercial excellence: maximizing revenue across media rights, sponsorship, matchday, merchandise, and talent monetization • Fan engagement and insights: using data to understand fan behavior, personalize content, and increase loyalty and spend • Platform expansion: building or partnering with streaming and digital platforms to deliver richer, more monetizable fan experiences • Technology-driven innovation: applying tech across advertising, ticketing, content, and performance to unlock new revenue streams and efficiencies • Operational efficiency: adopting business best practices to reduce costs, streamline operations, and professionalize structures
Mint
07-07-2025
- Business
- Mint
Small-cap stock under ₹50 hits upper circuit for 14th straight session. Do you own?
Small-cap stock under ₹ 50: Colab Platforms shares hit a 2% upper circuit on Monday. The small-cap stock remains on a bullish trend for the 14th consecutive session today, with a total gain of 52%. The stock has been showing an upward trajectory following the company's announcement to enter the billion-dollar Esports market, aiming to reshape the future of digital sports in India. The company is developing a player-centric competitive gaming platform tailored for India's digital-native generation. 'Gaming is no longer just a hobby, it's evolving into a legitimate profession, a scalable income opportunity, and a powerful cultural force,' said Mr. Puneet Singh, Managing Director of Colab Platforms Limited. Puneet Singh also mentioned that with more than 594 million gamers in India, the forthcoming Olympic Esports Games, and rising support from institutions, the esports industry offers a significant growth opportunity that is currently underfunded. Colab Esports is designed to seize this opportunity—providing gamers with a platform to compete, earn, develop, and transform their passion into tangible success. Colab Platforms has been providing cutting-edge technological solutions in multiple sectors. The company utilises its knowledge of advanced technologies to foster growth and improve user experiences. The firm is committed to delivering tailored, technology-driven processing solutions that assist clients in reaching their goals and surpassing their expectations. Colab Platforms share price today opened at ₹ 39.08 apiece on the BSE. In the past week the stock rose 10.33%. Stock has been down 25.36% in the past quarter and rose 418.99% in the past year. Colab Platforms reported revenues of ₹ 20.49 crore, a net profit of ₹ 0.95 crore, and EBITD of ₹ 1.25 crore as of May 29, 2025, for the fourth quarter of FY24-25. Since its listing on the BSE, Colab Platforms has executed two stock splits and has declared bonus shares once. The most recent stock split announcement for Colab Platforms was made on May 21, 2025, at a 2:1 ratio, while the last declaration of bonus shares occurred on March 19, 2024, at a 1:1 ratio. In April 2025, Colab Platforms declared an interim dividend of 0.5%, amounting to ₹ 0.01.
Zawya
07-07-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Middle East emerges as global sports powerhouse, unlocking billions in value and opportunity
Saudi Arabia leads regional growth with mega-events, privatization, and $38 billion investment in esports push UAE, Qatar, and Bahrain drive impact through global hosting, elite talent, and infrastructure development Dubai, United Arab Emirates – The Middle East is fast becoming one of the most influential players in global sports, according to global management consultancy Kearney's latest report, From passion to profit: unlocking value in sports. With the region experiencing a rapid and sustained growth rate across key segments, it is emerging as a major force in the global sports industry, driving innovation and investment that are reshaping the sector's future. With the global sports market expected to reach $600+ billion by 2030, the region is driving a transformation fueled by strategic investment, forward-looking policy, and technology-enabled innovation. Saudi Arabia, in particular, is emerging as a global benchmark, combining world-class hosting with systemic reform and sector-wide development. The momentum is visible across multiple fronts. On the global stage, the region has solidified its reputation as a premier destination for high-profile events: hosting everything from the FIFA World Cup in Qatar and the Bahrain Grand Prix to the Dubai Tennis Championships and soon, the Olympic Esports Games in Saudi Arabia. These events are not just about spectacle; they signal a strategic effort to position the region at the heart of global sporting calendars. Behind the scenes, infrastructure investment is accelerating. Governments across the Middle East are committing billions to develop next-generation stadiums, elite training academies, and integrated digital platforms. Saudi Arabia has allocated significant budgets toward sports infrastructure as part of its Vision 2030 agenda, while the UAE and Qatar continue to grow their ecosystems for high-performance sports and global talent attraction. Following an announcement by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, Dubai will host the inaugural World Sports Summit in December 2025, further reinforcing the region's growing influence on the global sports stage. The region is also pushing hard into digital-native sectors, with esports emerging as a focal point. Saudi Arabia's $38 billion investment to become a global hub for gaming is emblematic of a wider regional effort to tap into younger demographics through streaming, immersive content, and competitive gaming platforms. This youth-centric focus is being mirrored in broader fan engagement strategies across the ME. Women's participation is another key area of growth. New professional women's football leagues in the UAE, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia are expanding access and visibility, while initiatives across schools and communities are driving higher levels of inclusion. In Saudi Arabia alone, female participation in sport has increased by 150% since the launch of Vision 2030, an indicator of how deeply sports are being woven into the region's social fabric. Kearney's report highlights five key growth levers that organizations can use capture a greater share of future growth: Commercial excellence: maximizing revenue across media rights, sponsorship, matchday, merchandise, and talent monetization Fan engagement and insights: using data to understand fan behavior, personalize content, and increase loyalty and spend Platform expansion: building or partnering with streaming and digital platforms to deliver richer, more monetizable fan experiences Technology-driven innovation: applying tech across advertising, ticketing, content, and performance to unlock new revenue streams and efficiencies Operational efficiency: adopting business best practices to reduce costs, streamline operations, and professionalize structures 'What distinguishes the Middle East is its forward-looking approach. Free from legacy constraints, the region is innovating at scale: from Riyadh's Sports Boulevard and Qatar's integrated World Cup infrastructure to the UAE's growing ecosystem of digital fan platforms,' said Mohamed Hashem, Partner, Sports Lead for MEA at Kearney. 'Rather than replicating Western models, countries across the region are testing new frameworks that align sport with broader economic and societal ambitions.' The full report is available here: From passion to profit: unlocking value in sports About Kearney Since 1926, Kearney has been a leading management consulting firm and trusted partner to three-quarters of the Fortune Global 500 and governments around the world. With a presence across more than 40 countries, our people make us who we are. We work impact first, tackling your toughest challenges with original thinking and a commitment to making change happen together. By your side, we deliver—value, results, impact. Impact First promo video:
Mint
07-07-2025
- Business
- Mint
Small-cap stock under ₹50 hits upper circuit for 14th straight session. Do you own?
Small-cap stock under ₹ 50: Colab Platforms shares hit a 2% upper circuit on Monday. The small-cap stock remains on a bullish trend for the 14th consecutive session today, with a total gain of 52%. The stock has been showing an upward trajectory following the company's announcement to enter the billion-dollar Esports market, aiming to reshape the future of digital sports in India. The company is developing a player-centric competitive gaming platform tailored for India's digital-native generation. 'Gaming is no longer just a hobby, it's evolving into a legitimate profession, a scalable income opportunity, and a powerful cultural force,' said Mr. Puneet Singh, Managing Director of Colab Platforms Limited. Puneet Singh also mentioned that with more than 594 million gamers in India, the forthcoming Olympic Esports Games, and rising support from institutions, the esports industry offers a significant growth opportunity that is currently underfunded. Colab Esports is designed to seize this opportunity—providing gamers with a platform to compete, earn, develop, and transform their passion into tangible success. Colab Platforms has been providing cutting-edge technological solutions in multiple sectors. The company utilises its knowledge of advanced technologies to foster growth and improve user experiences. The firm is committed to delivering tailored, technology-driven processing solutions that assist clients in reaching their goals and surpassing their expectations.
Scottish Sun
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
UK's first-of-its-kind eGaming attraction to open in seaside city – with huge 200-seat arena and live shows
Plus, the 'world's greatest' music attraction hoping to open in the UK – with plans for massive live shows READY PLAYER UK's first-of-its-kind eGaming attraction to open in seaside city – with huge 200-seat arena and live shows Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A FIRST-OF-ITS-KIND e-gaming arena has been given the green light for the UK. British Esports has announced that it will open its flagship Gaming and Esports Arena in Sunderland next year. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 A first-of-its-kind e-gaming arena has been given the green light for the UK Credit: British Esports Stretching across 15,000-square-feet, the arena will host live events, competitions and have immersive audience experiences for egamers and egaming fans. Short for 'electronic sports', esports involves people competing against each other through video gaming - either in a team or as an individual. The new venue will include a 200-seat theatre for visitors, where there will be a 17-metre-wide screen to watch the action. Spectators and gamers will also be able to explore different shops. In addition to all this, there will be a number of performance rooms and an outdoor space for events in an attempt to make the arena one of the best esports destinations in the world. Athletes will be able to train at the venue like they are in an actual competition, as well as learn about esports. This includes professional esports players, who can also use the new arena to practice for upcoming events like the Esports World Cup and the Olympic Esports Games. Students and future esports players can also develop their skills at the arena. The venue won't just be for the players, but will also have spaces for all those involved in the sport including broadcasting studios. Away from esports events, the arena will be used for private events, live music and community events too. The state-of-the-art venue will be located next to the Stadium of Light - the home of Premier League football team AFC Sunderland. Inside £49m 'Stadium of the Year' which saw world record set and is more popular than the Bernabeu It will also be alongside the National Esports Performance Campus (NEPC) which opened back in 2023. At the NEPC - which is also the HQ for the British Esports Federation - visitors can partake in esports bootcamp training and esports education. Work will begin on the venue in September and is expected to open in the first quarter of 2026. The UK is home to a number of other esports venues including the Red Bull Gaming Sphere in London. Big sporting events like Formula E at the ExCeL in London also host egaming activities, where visitors can play on race car simulators like they themselves are in the race. 3 British Esports has announced that it's flagship Gaming and Esports Arena will be located in Sunderland Credit: British Esports Andy Payne OBE, chair of British Esports, said: "This is our St George's Park for esports, a national home with world-class performance spaces that will help train the next generation of esports talent and help to grow the region to be a key leader in esports in the UK. "We have designed our facility so that on any given day we could be a training and performance hub, running a global esports tournament, hosting a publisher game launch or hired out as a music venue. Councillor Michael Mordey, leader of Sunderland City Council also said they were "thrilled" with the news, which was part of a huge regeneration of Sunderland. He added: "Billions of pounds of investment will see our city transformed in the coming years, with thousands of new homes, Grade A offices, a new Nissan electric vehicle hub and a plethora of new leisure developments rising from the ground, and the Gaming and Esports Arena is a fantastic addition to this mix. "It is a game-changing development which will cement Sunderland's reputation as the home of esports in the UK, while providing a major boost to the regional economy, creating high skilled jobs for local people and attracting visitors from across the globe to our transforming city." A new immersive attraction is also set to open in the UK with indoor racing track and 'top secret' games. Plus, the 'world's greatest' music attraction hoping to open in the UK – with plans for massive live shows.
