IOC Announces Creation of Olympic Esports Games in 2025

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has announced the creation of the Olympic Esports Games, marking a significant step in embracing the digital revolution and engaging with the esports community. IOC President Thomas Bach expressed excitement about this new era for the organization, highlighting the attractiveness of the Olympic brand and its values among young people.

The idea of the Olympic Esports Games was developed by the IOC Esports Commission, under the leadership of IOC Member David Lappartient, following the success of the Olympic Esports Week in Singapore in 2023. The decision to move forward with the project was made at the 141st IOC Session in Mumbai, India.

Saudi Arabia’s National Olympic Committee, led by HRH Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Faisal, has been chosen as a partner for the project. The Minister of Sport emphasized the country’s commitment to esports and its potential to inspire millions of athletes around the world. Princess Reema Bandar Al-Saud also highlighted Saudi Arabia’s transformation in sports and society, with a particular focus on empowering women and youth.

The partnership between the IOC and Saudi Arabia comes at a time of significant growth in sports participation in the country. With over 23.5 million gamers and a booming esports industry, Saudi Arabia has proven itself as a key player in the global sports scene.

The IOC will begin work on selecting a city and venue for the inaugural Olympic Esports Games, as well as defining the event’s structure and qualification process. A dedicated structure within the IOC will be created to oversee the organization of the Games, with a different financial and organizational model than the traditional Olympic Games.

Overall, the announcement of the Olympic Esports Games represents a monumental step towards embracing the growing influence of esports and engaging with a new generation of athletes and fans. It opens up new opportunities for collaboration between the traditional sports world and the rapidly expanding esports industry.