Saudi Arabia and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) have reached an agreement for Saudi Arabia to host the first official Olympic Esports Games in 2025. This historic move comes after the IOC announced recently that the Olympic Esports Games have been established by the IOC Executive Board (EB). Over the course of the 12-year agreement, Saudi Arabia will host the first e-sports Olympic Games in 2025, with more competitions to follow.
The proposal is scheduled to be presented to the IOC Session on the eve of the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. The agreement is a continuation of the numerous international competitions Saudi Arabia has successfully hosted recently and a declaration of its status as the world’s preeminent e-sports hub. The IOC explains in a statement that its executive office has sent permission to hold the Olympic Games for esports in Saudi Arabia to the 143rd session of the IOC, which will take place in Paris, the French capital, during the Summer Games. After the meeting, more details about the event should become available.
The collaboration coincides with a period of notable expansion in Saudi Arabian sports generally, which is fueled by Vision 2030’s social and economic reforms. In 2018, the Kingdom was given the responsibility of organizing some of the largest international sporting events. More than 100 international competitions for athletes of all genders have been held there, with esports, football, motorsports, tennis, equestrian, and golf drawing over 2.6 million sports fans.
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Consequently, sports, ranging from amateur to professional, are now an increasingly integral aspect of daily life in Saudi Arabia. Participation in sports has increased threefold overall since 2015, reaching nearly 50% of the population. During this time, there have been 98 sports federations, a threefold increase from 32. One example of this growth is the Saudi Esports Federation. Approximately 67% of Saudi citizens identify as gamers, and there are currently 100 professional esports players who are pursuing full-time careers.
International Federations that have already participated in an e-version of their sport that is being evaluated for inclusion in the Olympic Esports Games have already been made aware that the IOC will prioritize working with these organizations. For National Olympic Committees that already incorporate esports into their events, this will also apply. In addition, the IOC will need to establish a new, distinct organizational structure inside itself that is unrelated to the Olympic Games’ organizational and financial framework. Regarding the funding and management of these competitions, the IOC will also need to adopt a new strategy to address the unique characteristics of the Olympic Esports Games.
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IOC President Thomas Bach said,
“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. The Olympic Esports Games will greatly benefit from this experience. By partnering with the Saudi NOC we have also ensured that the Olympic values are respected, in particular, with regard to the game titles on the programme, the promotion of gender equality and engagement with the young audience, which is embracing esports.”
Princess Reema Bandar Al-Saud, an IOC Member, member of the Board of Directors of the Saudi Arabian Olympic and Paralympic Committee and President of the Women’s Committee, stated,
“Witnessing the growing trends of female participation in esports is very exciting. I had the honour of working towards women’s empowerment in sport and in society as whole under Vision 2030, and the leadership of HRH Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and I’ve witnessed firsthand the tremendous positive impact of sport for women and girls. I look forward to the Olympic Esports Games as an opportunity for more female participation from across the globe in a safe and inclusive space.”
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