IOC and Saudi Arabia Team Up to Launch Olympic ESports Games

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has partnered with the National Olympic Committee of Saudi Arabia to introduce the inaugural Olympic ESports Games. Industry experts, including Abhishek Issar of FEAI, view this as a transformative moment for ESports, especially as player numbers and potential medal opportunities soar globally.

In a groundbreaking development for the ESports industry, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has announced a partnership with the National Olympic Committee of Saudi Arabia to host the first-ever Olympic ESports Games.

This initiative follows the proposal by the Olympics Executive Board to establish the ESports Games as part of its official events.

Abhishek Issar, Founder of UNIV Sportatech and a Founding Member of the Federation of ESports Associations India (FEAI), described the move as a revolutionary opportunity for countries aiming for Olympic medals in ESports. 'Today, every country will look at ESports as an Olympic medal-winning opportunity - this is a game changer for the industry,' stated Issar.

Notably, India is witnessing a surge in ESports participation, with player numbers increasing from 150,000 in 2021 to 600,000 in 2022 and projected to reach 1.5 million by 2027. This growth is seen as a reflection of India's strong geo-economic standing.

(With inputs from agencies.)