Cap-d'Ail: A beautiful place to swim, easily accesible by train.
Before even attending the event I had decided this would be my first and last EVO. In early september it was anounced that the Saudi owned project "Qiddiya" had purchased RTS, the co-owner of the EVO series. As a queer person with queer friends, in a community that prides itself in inclusivity, this was not welcome news. Saudi Arabia is an ultraconservative islamic state, homosexuality and transgender identities are punishable by anything up to and including capital punishment, and this is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Saudi human rights abuses. Sportswashing is the act of a government, company or organisation trying to improve its reputation through organising or supporting sporting events. The esports bubble has burst, and Saudi has swept in to buy up the fallout, knowing full well that without it's investment organisers and passionate people are out of luck.
Entering the event on Thursday afternoon to pick up my badge I was greeted by a huge "Qiddiya" banner hanging over the queues, the logo prominently displayed on every surface. To me there is nothing less welcoming, than seeing the marketing for a nation who wants people like me to cease to exist, in a space that is supposed to celebrate the hobby and community I love. The event itself was incredibly flashy, its clear the organisers put in a lot of effort, but for me it simply left a hollow feeling. The lack of casual setups and the pathetic community area, combined with the fact the whole event seemed to treat the community as a commodity, contributed to making me feel like there was no reason to be there. After dropping out of pools on Friday I did not go back.
The Côte d'Azur may have been one of the prettiest places I have visited in a long time, hanging out with friends and exploring a variety of areas in between Nice and Monaco saved the trip for me. In particular exploring Villefranche-sur-Mer and the Cap-d'Ail on Sunday were really nice experiences.
Cap-d'Ail: A beautiful place to swim, easily accesible by train.
Overall despite the abysmal experience at the event I had a lovely weekend surrounded by people who mean a lot to me. I may not be returning to EVO but maybe I will return to Fr*nce.