The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has signed a 12-year agreement with the Saudi National Olympic Committee (NOC) to host the Olympic Esports Games in Saudi Arabia. This landmark partnership will kick off with the inaugural event in 2025.

Saudi Arabia has been a significant player in the esports arena, most recently hosting the Esports World Cup in Riyadh. IOC President Thomas Bach expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration, highlighting Saudi Arabia’s extensive expertise in esports.

“We are fortunate to work with the Saudi NOC on the Olympic Esports Games, as their unique experience will greatly benefit the event.”

He also emphasized the partnership’s alignment with Olympic values, including promoting gender equality and engaging younger audiences.

HRH Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Faisal, Minister of Sport and President of the Saudi Arabian Olympic and Paralympic Committee, shared his excitement about the partnership, seeing it as an opportunity to inspire athletes worldwide.

“Participating in the Olympic Games is one of the greatest honours any athlete can achieve. We are proud to support this new chapter in Olympic history.”

The Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) has heavily invested in the video game industry, aligning with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s vision to diversify the economy away from oil dependency. The PIF holds stakes in major gaming companies such as Electronic Arts, Take-Two, and Nintendo.

However, these investments have sparked concerns about potential “sportswashing” due to Saudi Arabia’s history of human rights abuses, with critics arguing that such ventures aim to improve the kingdom’s international reputation.