IOC Announces Creation Of Olympic Esports Games
In a groundbreaking move, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has announced the creation of the Olympic Esports Games, set to debut in 2025.
The historic decision was unanimously endorsed at the 142nd IOC Session in Paris, marking a significant step in integrating the digital revolution into the Olympic movement. The first edition of the Games will be held in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, under a 12-year partnership with the National Olympic Committee (NOC) of Saudi Arabia.
A new era for the IOC
“This is truly a new era for the IOC,” said IOC President Thomas Bach. “With the confirmation by the IOC Session of the creation of the Olympic Esports Games, we are keeping up with the pace of the digital revolution. The esports community, represented in our Esports Commission, has enthusiastically engaged with this initiative.”
Saudi Arabia has become a hub for esports, having hosted numerous international tournaments, including the Esports World Cup currently taking place in Riyadh. The exact city and venue for the 2025 Games are yet to be decided, along with the specific event dates and the game titles to be included.
HRH Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Faisal, Minister of Sport and President of the Saudi Arabian Olympic and Paralympic Committee, expressed his excitement: “Our commitment to esports is simply a reflection of the world our young people live in. We now all have the chance to write new Olympic history together, inspiring new dreams and ambitions for millions of athletes worldwide.”
Olympic Esports Games is next step for IOC in engaging with esports
The IOC has been engaging with the esports community since 2018, culminating in the successful Olympic Esports Week in Singapore in 2023. This success prompted IOC President Bach to ask the Esports Commission to study the creation of the Olympic Esports Games. Under the leadership of IOC Member David Lappartient, the Commission devised a project that respects Olympic values while catering to the interests of the esports community.
Saudi Arabia’s dedication to esports is evident with over 23.5 million gamers, almost half of whom are female. The country has also hosted over 1,700 elite players from more than 80 countries in various esports events, attracting nearly four million fans and over 1.3 billion views on streaming platforms.
The IOC will now begin work on selecting a city and venue for the inaugural Olympic Esports Games, determining the event's timing, game titles, and player qualification processes. A new dedicated structure within the IOC will be established to handle the unique aspects of the Olympic Esports Games, distinct from the traditional Olympic Games' organisational and financial models.
This landmark initiative not only recognizes the growing influence of esports but also aims to promote gender equality and engage a younger audience, ensuring the Olympic spirit evolves with the times.
