IOC and Saudi Arabia Announce Historic Partnership for First Official Olympic Esports Games

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has recently unveiled a collaboration with the National Olympic Committee of Saudi Arabia for the inception of the inaugural Olympic Games dedicated to esports. This historic venture, announced on July 12, will be proposed ahead of the Paris games this year and marks the beginning of a 12-year partnership between the IOC and Saudi Arabian Olympic authorities. Although the IOC has engaged with esports previously, this will be the maiden officially recognized Olympic Esports Games. Presently, it is not confirmed if subsequent games will happen outside of Saudi Arabia.

A Revolutionary Partnership in the Esports Sphere

The alliance between the IOC and the Saudi Olympic Committee is a revolutionary move for the esports genre. IOC President, Thomas Bach, recently recognized the Saudi NOC's unparalleled esports proficiency and expressed the committee's fortune to be collaborating with such an accomplished partner in the esports arena.

The proposal for inclusion of the Olympic Esports Games in the grand spectrum of recognized sports will be presented at the IOC Session on the eve of the Paris Olympic Games launch, slated for July 24. Upon acceptance of the proposal, further details concerning scheduling and host cities will be disclosed. Potential games to be featured at the Esports Olympics and eligible nations for participation are also on the agenda for discussion.

The Journey Toward Incorporating Esports into the Olympics

The move towards integrating esports into the Olympic Games follows the IOC's announcement last month indicating their ambition to delve deeper into the esports realm. This interest budded after the lesser-known Olympic Esports Series that took place in Singapore last year missed out on a few major titles that many esports enthusiasts consider vital such as League of Legends or Counter-Strike.

This partnership comes at an opportune moment as the Esports World Cup, headquartered in Saudi Arabia, gears up for its third week. The Esports Olympic Games, if approved, will be added to a rapidly expanding roster of sports tournaments and events scheduled to take place in Saudi Arabia over the coming years. This list includes the FIBA Asia Basketball Cup in 2025 and the renowned FIFA World Cup, earmarked for 2034, among others.

Concerns Arise Over Saudi Arabia's Role in Esports

Despite the advancements bringing Saudi Arabia to the forefront of esports, some fans raise concerns over what they perceive as the nation's intrusion into the industry. Allegations of "sportswashing" have surfaced as critics believe the country's enormous investment in esports is a strategic attempt to enhance the country's image internationally. The $1.5 billion acquisition of ESL and FACEIT, significant payments to organizations joining the EWC Club Program, and collaboration with Overwatch 2 have sparked considerable controversy, especially from the LGBT+ community. Speculation over Saudi Arabia's ultimate motives in esports continues as we await more information on the 2025 Esports Olympic Games following the upcoming IOC Session.