The long-cherished dream of gamers becomes a reality as esports finally become a regular in the Olympic Games. The first-ever Olympic Esports Games will be held in the oil-rich kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 2025.
This landmark announcement came on Friday when the National Olympic Committee (NOC) of Saudi Arabia and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) signed a landmark 12-year deal that provides the Gulf country the hosting rights for the first Olympic Esports Games in 2025.
“Saudi Arabia is hugely excited by the prospect of partnering with the IOC and helping to welcome a completely new era for international sport,” said Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Faisal, president of the Saudi Arabian Olympic and Paralympic Committee.
He further added, “We are proud to support the writing of a new chapter in Olympic history that has the potential to inspire new dreams and ambitions for literally millions of athletes around the world.”
Commenting on this ground-breaking collaboration for the esport games, IOC President Thomas Bach wrote, “We are very fortunate to be able to work with the Saudi NOC on the Olympic Esports Games, because it has great – if not unique – expertise in the field of esports with all its stakeholders. The Olympic Esports Games will greatly benefit from this experience.”
The IOC confirmed that the Olympic Esports Games is part of their 12-year collaboration with the NOC of Saudi Arabia but the organization did not reveal any specific details like the event’s budget, its city, dates and schedule, qualifications for potential players, and game titles.
While the Olympic Esports Games’ are yet to be announced, the IOC is looking to partner with top video game publishers like Epic Games, Capcom, and Riot Games and we could see titles like Rocket League, Street Fighter, and League of Legends featuring the inaugural event.
This partnership highlights Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, which seeks to transform the nation’s social and economic landscape. Saudi Arabia has played host to over 100 international sports events since 2018. This signifies the country’s position in the esports arena, its robust gaming infrastructure, technological advancement, and its commitment to the global sports community.
Over the next 12 years, Saudi Arabia is set to play a key role in shaping the future and direction of esports, with the Olympic Esports game being held regularly. This collaboration not only showcases the nation’s dedication to excellence and innovation but also solidifies its position as a leader in the esports arena.
Keep following TheGamingNewz.com for the latest news and updates from the esports arena!
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thegamingnewz_official
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thegamingnewzfb
- X: https://twitter.com/thegaming_newz
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-gaming-newz
