Saudi Arabia to host inaugural Olympics Esports Games in 2025, says IOC

Saudi Arabia will host the inaugural Olympics Esports Games in 2025, the International Olympic Committee announced on Friday.

The IOC said the partnership with the Saudi National Olympic Committee would be 12 years.

The decision will be ratified at the IOC Session to be held on the eve of the Olympic Games in Paris, after which work will begin on selecting a host city for the inaugural edition.

“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,” IOC president Thomas Bach said in a statement.

“The Olympic Esports Games will greatly benefit from this experience.”

The IOC has been looking into Esports for several years and has formed a dedicated commission to find opportunities. In 2021, it developed the Olympic virtual series, a pilot venture in esports.

“We are a youthful nation, with over 23 million gamers,” Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Faisal, the Saudi Minister of Sport, said.

“Our Kingdom has become a global hub for professional esports… This is a natural next step for our young athletes, our country and the global esports community.”

Last year, Saudi Arabia launched an annual Esports World Cup with its first edition currently being held in Riyadh from July 3 – August 25.