Saudi Arabia gets go-ahead to host inaugural Olympic Esports Games in 2025

History has been made. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has decided to create Olympic Esports Games. The inaugural edition of the tournament is set to be organised by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 2025.

The 142nd IOC Session in Paris, ahead of the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games later this month, endorsed the proposal by the IOC Executive Board unanimously. The IOC and the National Olympic Committee (NOC) of Saudi Arabia have partnered for 12 years.

“This is truly a new era for the IOC,” said IOC President Thomas Bach, highlighting his expectations that the NOC of Saudi Arabia can “bring great – if not unique – experience in the field of esports to this project.”

“The story of sport in Saudi Arabia is a story of transformation”

Emphasising the significance of the initiative, HRH Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki, Minister of Sport and President of the Saudi Arabian Olympic and Paralympic Committee, said: “Our commitment to esports is simply a reflection of the world our young people live in.”

“The story of sport in Saudi Arabia is a story of transformation,” IOC member HRH Princess Reema Bandar al-Saud highlighted. She is also a board member of the Saudi Arabian Olympic and Paralympic Committee.

She futher mentioned: “With over 23.5 million gamers, many of whom are women, hosting the Olympic Esports Games in 2025 is a natural progression in our journey to open up Saudi Arabia to the world and the world to Saudi Arabia.”

Olympic Esports Games’ structure to be different

Esports is a part of the digital revolution happening globally. In recent years, Saudi Arabia has quickly become a hub for esports, hosting a number of international tournaments and luring significant participation and global viewership in the last couple of years.

The planning for the Olympic Esports Games is set to begin immediately, focusing on the selection of a city and venue, game titles and the qualification process for participants, according to the IOC.

In addition, the Committee is planning to establish a dedicated structure for the Olympic Esports Games, distinct from the traditional Olympic model, in an effort to better address the unique nature of esports. Keep an eye out for more updates from the Gulf Independent.