In a new development for the global esports landscape, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has officially declared that Saudi Arabia will not host the inaugural Olympic Esports Games, ending what was once seen as a long-term, game-changing partnership.
12-year deal comes to end
The decision marks a surprising turnaround from last year, when the IOC and the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee (SOPC) inked a 12-year deal to host the event in Riyadh, starting in 2025.
However, after months of delays and “strategic reassessment”, both parties have mutually agreed to part ways, effectively stripping the Kingdom of its hosting rights.
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The Olympic Esports Games, once scheduled to be held in 2025 before being postponed to 2027, were expected to place Saudi Arabia at the heart of global esports, much like its ambitions in football, boxing, and golf.
The Kingdom had poured significant investment into gaming through its Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF), hosting back-to-back global tournaments in Riyadh featuring the world’s top players and franchises.
However, with the IOC now moving to “restructure” the event independently, Saudi Arabia’s dream of anchoring the Olympic esports movement has been put on hold indefinitely.
Search for a new host
The committee is said to be “reassessing” its esports direction under the leadership of new IOC president Kirsty Coventry.
The organisation will now pursue a new hosting and partnership model to align the Olympic Esports Games more closely with the long-term goals of the Olympic Movement.
Despite the setback, Saudi officials are expected to continue investing heavily in esports and gaming, sectors central to the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 diversification plan.
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Meanwhile, esports fans around the world, including in Pakistan, where the gaming community has been growing rapidly, are keenly watching how the IOC restructures this ambitious project.
The Olympics Esports Games, once seen as a bridge between traditional sports and digital competition, may now take a new direction altogether.
