by On June 14, 2024, Thomas Bach, President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), announced the creation of the Olympic Esports Games, with the first edition set to take place in 2025.
The inaugural event will be hosted by Saudi Arabia, as revealed by L’Equipe.
This announcement follows the success of the Esports World Cup in Riyadh, which hosts 21 esports titles across 22 tournaments and aligns with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 plan, which heavily invests in the esports industry.
The IOC has partnered with the National Olympic Committee of Saudi Arabia to host the inaugural Olympic Esports Games 2025 in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
This follows the IOC’s recent announcement to establish the Olympic Esports Games.
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— IOC MEDIA (@iocmedia) July 12, 2024
Thomas Bach explained that the Esports Olympics would be organised within a new specialised structure within the IOC and would be distinct from the traditional Olympic Games in terms of organisation and financial model.
The initiative awaits validation at the 142nd IOC session.
The event is planned to take place at the end of 2025 to accommodate various competitive calendars.
Following the inaugural event, the Olympic Esports Games will occur every two years, with South Korea and the United States already in discussions to host future editions.
The Olympic Esports Games will feature three categories: virtual sports, sports simulations (such as EA FC24 and NBA2K), and popular esports games (like League of Legends).
The IOC aims to include around 15 games across these categories, engaging over 60 nations.
Discussions are underway to incorporate games like Rocket League and Street Fighter.
This new initiative marks the IOC’s renewed effort to integrate esports into the Olympics ecosystem, following past attempts that had limited success.
The IOC acknowledges the unique aspects of esports, particularly those games like League of Legends that are not linked to traditional sports or international sports federations.
Despite previous challenges, the IOC remains optimistic about esports’ place within the Olympic framework.
Bach highlighted the enthusiastic response from the esports community and the attractiveness of the Olympic brand.
Historically, the IOC has supported esports events, such as the 2019 Intel World Open featuring Rocket League and Street Fighter V, and the FIFAe World Cup established in 2004.
The formal approval of the Olympic Esports Games is expected during the IOC committee meeting from July 22–24, 2024.
Details regarding the specific titles and further organisational aspects will follow post-approval.
The IOC has entered into a 12-year partnership with the Saudi Olympic Committee to host the games, ensuring continuity and leveraging Saudi Arabia’s expertise in esports.
However, this partnership has faced criticism due to Saudi Arabia’s human rights record, particularly concerning women and LGBTQ+ communities.
In conclusion, the IOC’s partnership with Saudi Arabia for the Olympic Esports Games signifies a significant step towards integrating esports into the Olympic movement, promising a distinct structure and approach while aiming to uphold Olympic values.
