The first-ever Olympic Esports Games will take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in 2027, two years later than initially planned. This follows a 12-year agreement signed last year between the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and Saudi Arabia.
The IOC announced that its main partner for this event will be the Esports World Cup Foundation, an organization from Saudi Arabia.
Last year, Riyadh hosted the first-ever Esports World Cup, featuring popular games like Call of Duty, Fortnite, and Street Fighter. Millions of dollars in prize money were awarded to players. However, the IOC has not yet decided which games will be included in the Olympic Esports program, as they must align with Olympic values.
A six-member committee, led by veteran IOC member Ser Miang Ng and Saudi sports minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Faisal, will be responsible for selecting the games.
The confirmation of the Esports Olympics came shortly after Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman welcomed an Olympic delegation in Riyadh, including IOC President Thomas Bach, who will step down in June.
“There is now a clear plan for the first-ever Olympic Esports Games,” said Bach. “With the journey beginning this year, the Games are becoming a reality.”
The 12-year deal was announced last July, just before the Paris Olympics, marking another major sporting event for Saudi Arabia. The country was also chosen to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup.
Initially, the IOC planned to hold the Esports Olympics every two years starting in 2025, including a mix of physical, simulated, and electronic games. Qualifying events for national teams are set to begin this year.
