Saudi Arabia to Host Inaugural Olympics Esports Games in 2025

Saudi Arabia will host the first Olympics Esports Games in 2025, in partnership with the International Olympic Committee and the Saudi National Olympic Committee. This collaboration will last 12 years and aims to leverage Saudi Arabia's expertise in esports. The decision will be ratified in Paris before finalizing the host city.

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 span 12 years. The decision will be ratified at the IOC Session prior to 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. 'The Olympic Esports Games will greatly benefit from this experience.'

The IOC has been exploring Esports for several years and formed a dedicated commission in 2021 to find opportunities in the sector. 'We are a youthful nation, with over 23 million gamers,' Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Faisal, the Saudi Minister of Sport, stated. 'Our kingdom has become a global hub for professional esports.'

Saudi Arabia, which recently launched an annual Esports World Cup, has heavily invested in various sports sectors including soccer, Formula One, boxing, and golf. However, the country faces criticism for 'sportswashing' due to its human rights record. The kingdom denies accusations of human rights abuses.

The IOC aims to engage a younger generation of Olympics fans, as its traditional audience base ages. A new organizational structure will be created within the IOC specifically for the Olympic Esports Games, separate from its existing model.

(With inputs from agencies.)