Saudi Arabia will host the first Olympic Esports Games in 2025, with subsequent editions to be held regularly, per the IOC announcement. This follows IOC president Thomas Bach’s recent statement about the approval of introducing esports in the Olympic program during the XXXIII Olympiad in Paris.
The full details of the Olympic Esports Games will be released later. The IOC plans to create a separate structure focused on esports, separate from its usual operations. It will establish a new dedicated structure within its organization, clearly separated from the organizational and financial model for the Olympic Games.
IOC Official Announcement
The IOC’s partnership with the National Olympic Committee of Saudi Arabia is unsurprising given the Saudi government’s significant involvement in the industry. The ongoing Esports World Cup in Riyadh features 22 competitions in 21 game titles and is fully supported by the Saudi Government’s Public Investment Fund.
The IOC has yet to announce which game titles will be included in the Olympic program or if any esports titles will be included. The following steps include selecting a city and venue for the Olympic Esports Games, determining the event’s timing, finalizing the titles, and establishing the qualification process.
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