Olympic Esports Games Announced

Written by Dante Uzel on 11 February 2025 12:10

Source: IOC

The first Olympic Esports Games are set to take place in Riyadh in 2027, two years later than initially planned, following a 12-year agreement signed with Saudi Arabia last year. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced that the kingdom's Esports World Cup Foundation will be the founding partner for the event.

The inaugural Esports World Cup, held in Riyadh last July and August, featured games like Call of Duty, Fortnite, and Street Fighter, with tens of millions of dollars in prize money. However, it's still unclear which, if any, shooter games will be included in the Esports Olympic program, as the IOC has emphasized that the games must align with Olympic values.

A six-person panel, co-chaired by veteran IOC member Ser Miang Ng and Saudi sports minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Faisal, will be responsible for deciding the game lineup, according to the IOC.

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The announcement of the first Esports Olympics came just two days after Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman hosted an Olympic delegation, including IOC president Thomas Bach, who will be stepping down in June.

This 12-year agreement, secured last July just before the Paris Olympics, solidifies Saudi Arabia’s growing role in global sports. In December, FIFA confirmed the kingdom as the host for the 2034 men’s World Cup.

Tags: IOC

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