The International Olympic Committee declared earlier today that Saudi Arabia will host the inaugural Olympic Esports Games in 2025.
The IOC said in its announcement that the Olympic Esports Games are a component of its 12-year collaboration with the Saudi Arabian National Olympic Committee. The Olympic Esports Games’ specifics, like its host city, schedule, requirements for potential competitors, and game titles, have not yet been finalized.
Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Faisal, president of the Saudi Arabian Olympic and Paralympic Committee, stated, “As a ‘first’ ever Esports Olympic Games, obviously there is still much to consider and plan with the IOC, but we are committed to hosting a special event that respects and celebrates the Olympic values while boldly seizing the momentum to drive esports forward with the international platform the sport and its athletes deserve.” “Everyone is welcome to join us in 2025 as we commemorate this historic occasion.”
“It is truly a blessing for us to collaborate with the Saudi NOC on the Olympic Esports Games, as it possesses exceptional, if not exceptional, knowledge of the esports industry and all of its players. IOC President Thomas Bach remarked that “the Olympic Esports Games would immensely benefit from this experience.” “By collaborating with the Saudi NOC, we have additionally guaranteed the observance of the Olympic ideals, specifically with the titles of games featured on the schedule, the advocacy of gender parity, and interaction with the younger demographic, who is enthusiastic about esports.”
Plans for the International Federation and the National Olympic Committees’ “e-version” of sports to be included in the Olympic Esports Games were also disclosed by the IOC in its statement. This decree, according to Engadget, is in line with the organization’s esports “trial event” from the previous year, where participants competed in Fortnite, Just Dance, and Gran Turismo.
The Olympic Esports Games’ games have not yet been revealed, but according to L’Equipe, the IOC is looking to collaborate with well-known video game publishers like Epic Games, Capcom, and Riot Games to bring League of Legends, Rocket League, and Street Fighter to the first-ever competition.
Saudi Arabia has made significant investments in the gaming industry before. Prince Mohammed bin Salman gave Take-Two, EA, and Activision Blizzard investments totaling more than $3 billion back in 2021. According to The Verge, as of 2022, 96.18 percent of the corporate shares held by SNK, the producer of King of Fighters, Fatal Fury, and Samurai Shodown, were owned by Mohammed bin Salman’s Electronic Gaming Development corporate.
