Earlier today, the International Olympic Committee announced that the first-ever Olympic Esports Games will take place in Saudi Arabia in 2025.
In its announcement, the IOC revealed that the Olympic Esports Games is part of the organization’s 12-year partnership with the National Olympic Committee of Saudi Arabia. However, the particular details for the Olympic Esports Games, such as its city, date, qualifications for prospective players, and game titles, have yet to be hashed out.
“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,” Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Faisal, president of the Saudi Arabian Olympic and Paralympic Committee said. “The world will have an open invitation to join us in 2025 and celebrate this moment together.“
“We are very fortunate to be able to work with the Saudi NOC on the Olympic Esports Games, because it has great – if not unique – expertise in the field of esports with all its stakeholders. The Olympic Esports Games will greatly benefit from this experience,” IOC President Thomas Bach wrote. “By partnering with the Saudi NOC we have also ensured that the Olympic values are respected, in particular, with regard to the game titles on the programme, the promotion of gender equality and engagement with the young audience, which is embracing esports.”
In its announcement, the IOC also revealed plans for the International Federation and the National Olympic Committees’ “e-version” of sports to include in the Olympic Esports Games. According to Engadget, this edict coincides with the organization’s esports “trial event” from last year, which saw athletes compete in Gran Turismo, Just Dance, and Fortnite.
While the Olympic Esports Games’ games have yet to be announced, the IOC is reportedly eying partnerships with prominent video game publishers like Epic Games, Capcom, and Riot Games to have Rocket League, Street Fighter, and League of Legends take part in the inaugural event, according to L'Equipe.
While the announcement of the first-ever Olympic Esports Games comes as an exciting surprise to gamers around the world, it also comes with a bit of dissent. Particularly with Saudi Arabia’s controversial human rights record, which includes allegations of unjust treatment of women and members of the LGBTQ community.
This isn’t the first time Saudi Arabia has invested heavily in the gaming sphere. Back in 2021, Prince Mohammed bin Salman invested over $3 billion in Take-Two, EA, and Activision Blizzard. As of 2022, Mohammed bin Salman’s Electronic Gaming Development Company has 96.18 percent of King of Fighters, Fatal Fury, and Samurai Shodown developer SNK’s company shares, according to The Verge.
