Mirrored from https://nitter.lacontrevoie.fr/TeamLiquid/status/1679883703496081410

Text of the second tweet in the chain (which is not exactly the same as what is said in the video):

In a few days, Team Liquid — and much of the esports world — will participate in #RiyadhMasters. Since last year, Saudi Arabia has increased its investments and aims to build itself into a hub for esports and is nearly unavoidable. Saudi Arabia’s laws and policies on women’s rights, LGBTQ+ rights, migrant workers, native tribes, and political speech do not line up with our values or the values of the majority of the esports community. While there has been some improvement in the country, more needs to be done.

We believe that Team Liquid has a responsibility to raise awareness and push for an esports community that welcomes all. We’re committing $50,000 USD to Rainbow Railroad, a charity that helps LGBTQ+ people all over the world escape life-threatening persecution, and $50,000 USD to initiatives and events that help women and LGBTQ+ people in esports. This is in addition to the $47,500 we’ve already donated last year.

We will also continue to work with ESL to guarantee the safety of our staff and players in the region. We hope the community will remain outspoken about these events and that other organizations will also help raise awareness.

We know this won’t please everyone, and we understand that the community will talk. That’s good. We believe that this is better than the silence that would come otherwise.

  • Laxaria@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    It’s inevitable that these situations would happen, which really exposes how small the tournament organization pool is for Dota2 :/

    • Azzu@lemm.eeOPM
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      1 year ago

      I mean even if it were larger, 5 million $ for one tournament is life-changing money. Until we figure out a way to not concentrate wealth at the very top, this will continue.