In an update that has sent waves across the globe, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has announced a partnership with the National Olympic Committee of Saudi Arabia to host the first-ever Olympic Esports Games. The inaugural edition, set to be held in 2025, will take place in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The duration of this partnership between the IOC and the Saudi NOC will be 12 years, or 3 Olympic cycles, with Olympic Esports Games held regularly during this time. Certain key details about the sporting event are yet to be announced, including primarily the titles that will be included and the venue. The IOC Board will be in charge of officially approving the games.

HRH Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Faisal, Minister of Sport and President of the Saudi Arabian Olympic and Paralympic Committee, spoke about the widespread impact this event will have and reiterated the kingdom’s commitment to rewriting the history books.

“As a ‘first’ ever Esports Olympic Games, obviously there is still much to consider and plan with the IOC, but we are committed to hosting a special event that respects and celebrates the Olympic values while boldly seizing the momentum to drive Esports forward with the international platform the sport and its athletes deserve,” he shared. “The world will have an open invitation to join us in 2025 and celebrate this moment together.”

This partnership between the IOC and KSA is the latest mammoth addition to the kingdom’s growing portfolio of sports events. They are currently hosting the inaugural Esports World Cup with the largest prize pool in Esports history. They are also set to stage the 2034 World Cup in men’s football, the 2027 Asian Cup in men’s football, the 2029 Asian Winter Games, and the multi-sport 2034 Asian Games in Riyadh.

Ayaan is the Chief News Editor of The Daily Esports.