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 kinda sucked to hear. Saudi Arabia is an ultraconservative islamic state, homosexuality and transgender identities are punishable by anything up to and including capital punishment, and that's only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Saudi human rights abuses.
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 (yes I suck) I did not go back.
Sportswashing sucks, it's 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.
Basically, fuck esports, and fuck Saudi.