Impact Festival 2024: Creative Transformation Driving Gaming, Entertainment, and Sports Industries in Saudi Arabia
The Saudi Creativity Festival “Athar” will be returning this year for its second edition during the period from November 5th to 6th. This event is organized by Motivate Media Group and TRACCS, and is considered the most prominent creative marketing festival in Saudi Arabia. In line with the Vision 2030 of Saudi Arabia, the “Athar” festival paves the way for leaders, decision-makers, and emerging talents to communicate, exchange insights, and drive creative efforts in various thriving sectors in the kingdom.
The Saudi Creativity Festival “Athar” has revealed an extensive list of distinguished interactive activities featuring a group of specialists and renowned creatives in the field of creative marketing. This is part of its efforts to highlight the transformative power of creativity in the fields of gaming, entertainment, and sports. The “Athar” 2024 festival is preparing to present dynamic sessions, exclusive networking opportunities bringing together elite leaders and decision-makers, as well as presenting inspiring insights foreseeing the future of the sector.
In a highly anticipated keynote speech, Matt McKee, Marketing Director at Manchester United Football Club, will shed light on the key lessons learned from his illustrious career having held prominent positions at Manchester United, the Olympics, Nike, and EA Sports. McKee will delve into showcasing best practices in sports marketing, focusing on lessons that other industries can benefit from. He will highlight the best ways to understand audiences and build deep, sustainable relationships with them.
McKee states:
”The rapid growth of digital media has contributed to the globalization of sports marketing, providing vast opportunities for sports brands to engage global audiences and create new revenue sources. However, this global spread requires a deep understanding of diverse cultural and consumer features to ensure the formulation of effective global strategies”.
Additionally, the “Athar” 2024 festival will host a series of panel discussions aimed at exploring the vital role of creativity in driving growth in the fields of gaming, sports, and entertainment. Industry leaders like Youssef Radd from GroupM, the renowned influencer in gaming Thamer AlDairem, also known as Xzit, Hatem Abdel Hadi from Serviceplan Middle East, and James Dayton from UM will lead discussions on strategies for using gaming as a successful platform for brands. Gilbert Rustom, Marketing Director at New Murabaa, and Walid Beshairy, Senior Marketing Manager at Al-Musafir, will lead an important session on the role of creativity in transforming entertainment and tourism in Saudi Arabia.
Key figures in the sports sector, including Andy Jackson from Footballco Media, Waseem Khushan from Roshan Group, Adel Braga from Publicis Communications Saudi Arabia, Miguel Viana and Leonardo Borges from Unlock Brands, and Havas Middle East respectively, will gather to discuss how to harness available opportunities in the sports sector in the Kingdom.
Additionally, Abdurrahman Mamdouh, Regional Content Manager at Kijamii, will share valuable insights on sports communication strategies.
In line with the goals of Vision 2030 of Saudi Arabia, the “Athar” festival works towards supporting talent, stimulating creativity, and uplifting the sports and entertainment sectors, contributing significantly to building an innovative and flourishing nation. This event goes beyond being a traditional festival, representing a dynamic movement that enables the youth and professionals of the nation to lead an innovative and transformative future.
