OLYMPIC ESPORTS GAMES CONFIRMED FOR 2025
For the first time in history, the Olympic Esports Games will take place in 2025 in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with a unanimous vote.
Image Credit: @Olympics Twitter
OLYMPIC ESPORTS GAMES 2025 VOTED AT THE 142ND IOC SESSION
Taking place in Paris a few days prior to the start of the 2024 Olympic Games, the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the body behind the Games, has endorsed the proposal by the IOC Executive Board (EB).
Additionally, the IOC has partnered with the National Olympic Committee (NOC) of Saudi Arabia for 12 years, meaning that the Olympic Esports Games will be taking place in the Kingdom for the next three editions.
This is the culmination following the hosting of the Olympic Esports Week in Singapore last year. The success of the event brought the IOC President to ask the IOC Esports Commission at the 141st IOC Session to study the creation of the Olympic Esports Games.
THE CITY AND VENUE FOR THE OEG ARE YET TO BE CONFIRMED
The IOC Esports Commission, led by IOC Member David Lappartient and includes leading esports representatives such as G2 CEO Alban Dechelotte, created a project that combines games while promoting the Olympic’s values, including the promotion of gender equality and engagement with the young audience.
According to a release, work will begin immediately to select a city and a venue for next year’s inaugural edition, with more details to be revealed at a later date.
“This is truly a new era for the IOC. With the confirmation by the IOC Session of the creation of the Olympic Esports Games, we are keeping up with the pace of the digital revolution,” said OC President Thomas Bach. “The esports community, represented in our Esports Commission, has enthusiastically engaged with this initiative. This is further proof of the attractivity of the Olympic brand and the values it stands for among young people. The NOC of Saudi Arabia will bring great – if not unique – experience in the field of esports to this project. This partnership is based on the Olympic Charter and the Olympic values.”
Saudi Arabia is no stranger to the esports industry, as they are currently hosting the first edition of the Esports World Cup. The MENA region has been investing heavily in sports and entertainment as part of Vision 2030, a government program launched by the government that aims to diversify the country from an economic, social, and cultural standpoint.