The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has officially confirmed the creation of the Olympic Esports Games, with the inaugural event set to take place in 2025 in Saudi Arabia. The announcement was made during the IOC’s 142nd Session in Paris on Tuesday.
“This is truly a new era for the IOC,” said IOC President Thomas Bach. “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.”
In response to a question from Greg Laffradi of CGTN Sports Scene about the possibility of esports being included in the Summer Olympics, Bach noted that discussions have been ongoing for several years. He mentioned that Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) President David Lappartient suggested the physical demands for virtual and traditional cycling are “more or less” the same.
The IOC announced on July 12 that it has partnered with the National Olympic Committee (NOC) of Saudi Arabia to host the inaugural Olympic Esports Games in 2025, a move unanimously endorsed by the IOC Executive Board.
“The esports community, represented in our Esports Commission, has enthusiastically engaged with this initiative. This is further proof of the attractiveness of the Olympic brand and the values it stands for among young people,” Bach said.
“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,” he added.
Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Faisal, Minister of Sport and President of the Saudi Arabian Olympic and Paralympic Committee, highlighted the significance of the initiative. “Our commitment to esports is simply a reflection of the world our young people live in. We now all have the chance to write new Olympic history together,” he said.
IOC member Princess Reema Bandar Al-Saud, also a board member of the Saudi Arabian Olympic and Paralympic Committee, added, “The story of sport in Saudi Arabia is a story of transformation. With over 23.5 million gamers, many of whom are women, hosting the Olympic Esports Games in 2025 is a natural progression in our journey to open up Saudi Arabia to the world and the world to Saudi Arabia.”
Saudi Arabia has rapidly become a hub for esports, hosting numerous international tournaments with significant participation and global viewership over the past two years.
According to the IOC, planning for the Olympic Esports Games will commence immediately, focusing on the selection of a city and venue, game titles, and the qualification process for participants. The IOC will establish a dedicated structure for the Games, distinct from the traditional Olympic model, to better address the unique nature of esports.
“It is clearly a milestone because we are entering new ground, but we are entering this new ground on a very firm base,” Bach said regarding the Olympic Esports Games.
The IOC held its Esports Forum in July 2018, following the sixth Olympic Summit in Lausanne the previous year, where the development of esports was introduced as a main topic. In 2023, the Olympic Esports Week was held in Singapore, after which Bach requested the IOC Esports Commission to study the creation of the Olympic Esports Games during the 141st IOC Session in Mumbai, India.
Reference(s):
IOC confirms 2025 debut for Olympic Esports Games in Saudi Arabia
cgtn.com
