In a landmark announcement, IOC President Thomas Bach declared, “This marks a new era for the IOC. With the confirmation of the Olympic Esports Games by the IOC Session, we are adapting to the pace of the digital revolution. The enthusiastic engagement from the esports community, represented in our Esports Commission, is further proof of the appeal of the Olympic brand and its values among young people. The NOC of Saudi Arabia will contribute invaluable experience in the field of esports to this project. This partnership is rooted in the Olympic Charter and its values.”
The IOC has been holistically engaging with esports since 2018, culminating in the organization of the Olympic Esports Week in Singapore in 2023. Due to the event’s success, the IOC President asked the IOC Esports Commission during the 141st IOC Session in Mumbai, India, in October 2023 to explore the creation of the Olympic Esports Games. Under the leadership of IOC Member David Lappartient, the Commission developed a project that addresses the interests of the esports community while upholding Olympic values. This is particularly true in terms of game titles, gender equality promotion, and engagement with the young audience who are embracing esports.
HRH Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Faisal, Minister of Sport and President of the Saudi Arabian Olympic and Paralympic Committee, commented, “Thanks to Vision 2030 introduced by His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, esports in Saudi Arabia have a rich past, an exciting present, and a promising future. Our commitment to esports reflects the world our young people live in, and we now have the opportunity to write new Olympic history together, inspiring new dreams and ambitions for millions of athletes worldwide.”
“We believe participating in the Olympics is the ultimate honor for any athlete. That’s why we are dedicated to providing the best platform for new heroes to perform and for the Olympic spirit to be shared. We eagerly anticipate welcoming the global esports community to the Kingdom in 2025.”
IOC Member HRH Princess Reema Bandar Al-Saud, also a member of the Board of Directors of the Saudi Arabian Olympic and Paralympic Committee and President of the Women’s Committee, added, “The story of sport in Saudi Arabia is one of transformation. It is about unlocking the potential of the Saudi people, leveraging their passion for sport, and enhancing their quality of life. Vision 2030, launched by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in 2016, has led to more than 150 reforms transforming society, empowering women and youth. As a nation, we have over 23.5 million gamers, nearly half of whom are female. We have been at the forefront of the esports industry for years. Hosting the Olympic Esports Games in 2025 is a natural progression in our journey of opening Saudi Arabia to the world and vice versa.”
Prince Abdulaziz and Princess Reema presented the project together to the IOC Session.
In the past two years, through major international tournaments including the inaugural Esports World Cup, Saudi Arabia has hosted over 1,700 elite players from more than 80 countries. Further highlighting its hosting credentials, esports events in Saudi Arabia have attracted nearly four million fans for live experiences, with an additional 1.3 billion views globally on various streaming platforms. About 67% of the Saudi population consider themselves gamers, with an increasing number, currently 100, of professional esports players pursuing full-time careers.
The partnership between the IOC and the NOC of Saudi Arabia comes amid significant growth in sports in Saudi Arabia. The Kingdom has hosted over 100 international events for both male and female athletes, including esports, football, motorsports, tennis, equestrian, and golf, drawing over 2.6 million sports fans.
Overall sports participation has more than tripled since 2015, reaching nearly 50% of the country’s population. The number of sports federations has also tripled during this time, from 32 to 98.
Women’s sports have particularly seen rapid growth. There are now over 330,000 registered female athletes and nearly 40 women’s national teams competing internationally. Along with sports participation, reforms in regulations ensure female representation on the boards of all sports federations, with over 100 women now appointed, including seven female federation presidents. Moreover, all female and male athletes receive the same level of pay when representing their country.
Following today’s decision, work will begin immediately on selecting a city and venue for the inaugural Olympic Esports Games, the timing of the event, the included game titles, the qualification process for players, and further details.
Simultaneously, the IOC will establish a new dedicated structure within its organization, distinct from the organizational and financial model of the Olympic Games. To address the unique nature of the Olympic Esports Games, the IOC will adopt a different approach to financing and organizing these Games.
The IOC emphasized that International Federations already engaged in an e-version of their sport considered for inclusion in the Olympic Esports Games will be the IOC’s primary partners. The same applies to National Olympic Committees that already include esports in their activities.