The Culture's Special Circumstances (SC) section suggests that he goes to participate in a games tournament in an alien civilisation, the Empire of Azad, where a complex game (also named Azad) is used to determine social rank and political status.
He goes to participate in a games tournament in an alien civilisation where a complex game (also named Azad) is used to determine social rank. He goes to participate in a games tournament in an alien civilisation where a complex game (also named Azad) is used to determine political status. The Culture's Special Circumstances (SC) section suggests this. The Empire of Azad is an alien civilisation.