Today the International Olympic Committee announced that the inaugural Olympic Esports Games will be hosted in 2027 in Riyadh, the capital of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
This timeline marks the calendar two years later than the initial announcement, which described the inaugural edition as coming this year, but according to the new press release, the “first Olympic competitions” will actually start in 2025.
As part of the cooperation with the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee, the Esports World Cup Foundation (which organizes the Esports World Cup) will become a founding partner of the Olympic Esports Games.
The foundation is bringing to the table “its expertise in game selection, tournament structures, and ecosystem engagement to drive innovation in the development of the Olympic Esports Games.”
Together with the IOC and “key stakeholders,” they will “establish qualification pathways, enhance competitive integrity, and align the national esports ecosystems with broader global standards.”
The topic was discussed on Sunday in Riyadh during a meeting between the Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, HRH Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, the President of the SOPC and Minister of Sports, HRH Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Faisal, and IOC President Thomas Bach.
A comment from Bach accompanied the press release.
“There is now a very clear roadmap to the historic first-ever Olympic Esports Games. With the Road to the Olympic Esports Games starting this year, the Games are becoming a reality. This is further evidence of the strength of the partnership between the IOC and the SOPC in many areas.”
We also hear from HRH Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Faisal.
“Today the journey to the first-ever Olympic Esports Games is clear, with an immediate timeline that works for all parties and sees the Road to Olympic Esports Games start in 2025. Together with the IOC there is real momentum, unity and clarity on the way forward, with the focus now on delivering.
Already Saudi Arabia is looking forward to welcoming the world and playing its part to help the dreams of so many esports athletes come true. Just as we are seeing across all sports in the Kingdom, there is real growth and new opportunities to grasp as part of an exciting future for all.”
The IOC and the SOPC have set up a joint committee to steer the Games co-chaired by IOC Member Ser Miang Ng and HRH Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Faisal. It includes six members, three from each side of the partnership.
The committee is currently working on deciding which games will be part of the inaugural edition of the Olympic Esports Games.