The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has announced that the inaugural Olympic Esports Games will be held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in 2027, marking a two-year delay from the originally expected 2025 launch. (More Sports News)
The event is part of a 12-year agreement signed last year between the IOC and Saudi Arabia라이브 바카라 Esports World Cup Foundation, which will serve as the founding partner.
A Major Step For Esports On The Olympic Stage
The Olympic Esports Games will be an extension of the growing esports industry, following the success of Saudi Arabia라이브 바카라 first annual Esports World Cup held in Riyadh last year.
That event featured top-tier competitions in games such as Call of Duty, Fortnite, and Street Fighter, with tens of millions of dollars in prize money distributed.
However, the IOC has yet to confirm which titles will be included in the Esports Olympics. The committee has consistently emphasized that games selected for the event must align with Olympic values, leaving the inclusion of shooter games uncertain.
Decision-Making Panel And Future Plans
A six-member panel will oversee the selection of games for the Olympic Esports Games, co-chaired by veteran IOC member Ser Miang Ng and Saudi Arabia라이브 바카라 sports minister, Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Faisal.
Their decisions will shape the direction of the competition, which will feature "physical, simulated, and electronic games," according to the IOC라이브 바카라 vision presented in Paris last year.
While the Olympic Esports Games were initially planned to be held every two years starting in 2025, the revised timeline now places the first edition in 2027. National qualifying competitions for the event are expected to begin later this year.
Saudi Arabia's Growing Sports Influence
This announcement comes just days after Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman hosted an Olympic delegation, including IOC President Thomas Bach, in Riyadh.
The 12-year partnership with the IOC adds to Saudi Arabia라이브 바카라 expanding portfolio of global sporting events, following its successful bid to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup.
