The Pokémon Company has announced that the prestigious Pokémon World Championships for 2024 will be hosted in Honolulu, Hawaii. This decision was unveiled during the final day of the 2023 Pokémon World Championships held in Yokohama, Japan. The upcoming event will showcase competitive tournaments across various Pokémon games, including Pokémon Go, mainline video games, and the Pokémon Trading Card Game.
In light of the ongoing wildfire crisis affecting the Hawaiian island of Maui, The Pokémon Company has demonstrated its commitment to supporting relief efforts. The company released a statement on Twitter, confirming a generous donation of $200,000 to the Hawaii Wildfire Relief Fund through its partner, GlobalGiving.
The statement reads, “Our hearts go out to all those who have been impacted by the devastating wildfires in Hawaii. To support relief efforts, The Pokémon Company International is making an immediate monetary donation of $200,000 to its partner at GlobalGiving through its Hawaii Wildfire Relief Fund.”
While the announcement was met with gratitude from many fans, others expressed concerns about hosting the event in a region grappling with adversity. Some individuals emphasized that now might not be an ideal time to gather a significant number of participants and tourists in an area currently affected by natural disasters.
A Twitter user, @miyajensen, conveyed, “Now is NOT the time. My community is suffering and dealing with intense trauma right now. Just because the event is scheduled on Oahu doesn’t mean we still have space and resources for y’all. Please read the room. Do not come.”
Another user, @CraneGothurt, suggested, “Please consider moving it to another island. I know these are planned out far in advance and I’m happy to see [The Pokémon Company’s] donations for wildfire relief, but it’s not a good idea to put a ton of tourists in a struggling area.”
With the conclusion of the 2023 Pokémon World Championships, the winners in different categories have been revealed. Shohei Kimura secured victory in the Video Game Championships (VGC) Master’s Division, Vance Kelley emerged as the Trading Card Game (TCG) Master’s Division Champion, ItsAxn triumphed in the Pokémon Go Championship, and the Luminosity team was crowned the Pokémon Unite’s Champion. While the current champions bask in their glory, all eyes are set on the 2024 event, which holds the potential for new victors and exciting competition.
