The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has announced a groundbreaking move into the world of esports, creating the Olympic Esports Games. This new event will take place for the first time in Saudi Arabia in 2025.
The IOC plans to establish a dedicated structure within its organization specifically for the Olympic Esports Games, with a distinct financial and organizational model compared to the traditional Olympic Games. Existing International Federations involved in esports and National Olympic Committees already engaged with esports will be prioritized as partners for the Olympic Esports Games.
How did the Esports Games come about?
The IOC has been engaging with esports since 2018 in a holistic way. This culminated in the organization of the Olympic Esports Week in Singapore in 2023. As a result of the success of this event, the IOC President asked the IOC Esports Commission at the 141st IOC Session in Mumbai, India, in October 2023 to study the creation of the Olympic Esports Games. The Commission, under the leadership of IOC Member David Lappartient, devised a project that addresses the interest of the esports community while respecting the Olympic values. This is particularly true about the game titles on the program, the promotion of gender equality, and engagement with the young audience, which is embracing esports.
A new era
IOC President Thomas Bach expressed the significance of this decision, stating it marks "a truly new era for the IOC." The initiative reflects the Committee's efforts to keep pace with the digital revolution and cater to the interests of a younger generation. The strong engagement from the esports community through its representatives on the IOC Esports Commission further solidified this move.
Another milestone in Saudi Arabia Vision 2030
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was chosen to host the inaugural Olympic Esports Games. HRH Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Faisal, Saudi Arabia's Minister of Sport and President of the Saudi Arabian Olympic and Paralympic Committee, highlighted the nation's commitment to esports, fueled by Vision 2030, a national transformation plan.
He emphasized the focus on youth and their passion for gaming as a driving force behind this investment.
Kingdom's Esports infrastructure
The Olympic Esports Games aim to provide a platform for new esports heroes to emerge and share the Olympic spirit.
HRH Princess Reema Bandar Al-Saud, a member of the IOC Session and the Saudi Arabian Olympic and Paralympic Committee emphasized the potential for instilling Olympic values in innovative ways. She also pointed to Saudi Arabia's existing esports infrastructure and growing gamer population, with nearly half being female, as a natural fit for hosting the event.
Saudi Arabia's Esports credentials
Saudi Arabia's qualifications for hosting the Olympic Esports Games were further underscored by its experience in hosting major international tournaments, including the inaugural Esports World Cup, which welcomed over 1,700 players from across the globe.
Esports events within the Kingdom have attracted nearly four million live attendees and garnered over 1.3 billion views online. With a significant portion of the population identifying as gamers and a growing number of professional players, Saudi Arabia presents a fertile ground for the development of esports.
Growth of sports
The partnership between the IOC and Saudi Arabia reflects a broader trend of increased sports participation in the Kingdom. Since 2015, overall participation has tripled, reaching nearly half of the population.
The number of sports federations has also seen a threefold increase, with a strong focus on promoting women's sports. Initiatives include over 330,000 registered female athletes, nearly 40 women's national teams competing internationally, and guaranteed equal pay for male and female athletes on national duty.