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4h ago

IOC and Saudi Arabia End 12-Year Olympic Esports Deal, Riyadh Loses Hosting Rights

The IOC will pursue a new partnership model to stage the inaugural Olympic Esports Games as soon as possible.

The Eiffel Tower is seen through a net with a part of the logo of the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games from the Trocadero square in Paris, France, July 3, 2024. REUTERS/Yara Nardi
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Before the deal between Saudi Arabia and the International Olympic Committee fell through, the first Olympic Esports Games were meant to be held in Riyadh in 2027. AP

Overview

  • The IOC and Saudi authorities said they mutually ended their cooperation on the Olympic Esports Games about 14 months after announcing a 12-year hosting agreement.
  • No replacement host, timetable, or finalized format has been named as the IOC resets the project under a new approach and partnership model.
  • The first edition had been slated for 2025 in Riyadh before being postponed to 2027 earlier this year.
  • Organizational hurdles remain, including publisher agreements, national team structures, anti-doping programs, and the IOC’s non-violence criteria that exclude many popular titles.
  • Saudi Arabia will continue its esports push through the Esports World Cup and plans an Esports Nations Cup in November 2026, alongside major state-backed gaming investments.