The first-ever Olympic Esports Games will take place in Riyadh in 2027
Saudi Arabia will host the first Olympic Esports Games in 2027, with a prelude event in 2025.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) published on February 11, 2025, plans to bring its first esports event to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabia has been investing in the esports scene for some time. Last year, Riyadh saw massive success with the eight-week-long Esports World Cup.
This news follows the IOC’s decision to create the Olympic Esports Games in July 2024.
The event will see joined efforts from both the IOC and the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee (SOPC).
Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) is a non-profit that will be a founding partner of the Olympic Esports Games.
The EWCF will be working with the IOC to “establish qualification pathways, enhance competitive integrity, and align the national esports ecosystems with broader global standards”.
Thomas Bach, IOC President, said: “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.”
A meeting in Riyadh was held between the two organizations on Sunday. Attendees included the Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, HRH Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, President Bach and the President of the SOPC and Minister of Sports, HRH Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Faisal in Riyadh
The two organizations see a lot of potential with this event, as tournaments like the Esports World Cup garnered 500 million viewers last year.
What is the Road to the Olympic Esports Games?The Road to the Olympic Esports Games is set to take place later this year.
It is a series of qualifying events and tournaments leading up to the main event in 2027.
Here, top esports athletes and teams from across the globe will compete for a place in the official games.
Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Faisal said: “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.”
This year has already been an exciting time for e-sports, with an abundance of events happening in January/February of 2025.
Feature image: IOC / Royal Court
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