IOC partners with NOC of Saudi Arabia to host the inaugural Olympic Esports Games 2025

On Friday, the National Olympic Committee (NOC) of Saudi Arabia and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced their partnership to hold the first-ever Olympic Esports Games in Saudi Arabia in 2025. This historic move comes after the IOC recently declared that the Olympic Esports Games have been formed by the IOC Executive Board (EB). The idea is scheduled to be presented at the IOC Session on the eve of the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

The IOC and the Saudi NOC will cooperate for a period of twelve years, during which time regular Olympic Esports Games will take place.

The collaboration coincides with a period of notable expansion in Saudi Arabian sports generally, which is fueled by Vision 2030's social and economic changes to the nation. With over 100 international events for both male and female athletes, including esports, football, motorsports, tennis, equestrian, and golf, with an attendance of over 2.6 million sports spectators, the Kingdom has been tasked with organizing some of the largest global sports events since 2018. 

Consequently, sports, ranging from amateur to professional, are becoming an increasingly integral aspect of daily life in Saudi Arabia. Since 2015, the percentage of the population that participates in sports has more than tripled, reaching about 50%. 

During this time, there have been 98 sports federations, a threefold rise 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 that are pursuing full-time professions.

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 emphasized by the IOC as their first choice for partners. For National Olympic Committees that already incorporate esports into their events, this will also apply.