Paris, France, July 23, 2024: History was made today when the IOC decided to create the Olympic Esports Games. The first edition will be held in 2025 in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The 142nd IOC Session in Paris endorsed the proposal by the IOC Executive Board unanimously. For the organisation of the Games, the IOC has partnered with the National Olympic Committee of Saudi Arabia for 12 years.
IOC President Thomas Bach said: “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.
“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.”
The IOC has been engaging with esports since 2018, culminating in the organisation of the Olympic Esports Week in Singapore in 2023.
HRH Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Faisal, Minister of Sport and President of the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee, said: “Thanks to Vision 2030 introduced by His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, esports in Saudi Arabia already have a rich past, an exciting present and a promising future.
“And the reason why is the same reason why we are investing across all sports – our young people.”
IOC Member HRH Princess Reema Bandar Al-Saud, who is also a member of the Board of Directors of the SOPC and President of the Women’s Committee, stated: “The story of sport in Saudi Arabia is a story of transformation; a story of unleashing the incredible potential of the Saudi people, harnessing their passion for sport and elevating their quality of life.
“Vision 2030, launched by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in 2016, has delivered a wave of more than 150 reforms that have transformed society, empowering women and youth.
“As a nation, we already have over 23.5 million gamers, of whom almost half are female. We have been at the very heart of the esports industry for many years. We see that hosting the Olympic Esports Games in 2025 is a natural next step in our journey of opening up Saudi Arabia to the world and the world to Saudi.”
For more details, see: https://olympics.com