SAUDI ARABIA: The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has officially partnered with the National Olympic Committee (NOC) of Saudi Arabia to bring the inaugural Olympic Esports Games to the Kingdom in 2025. This 12-year agreement ensures that the Olympic Esports Games will be held regularly in Saudi Arabia beginning next year.

The announcement was made during the Esports World Cup, which is currently being held in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia.

The IOC, aiming to attract and retain younger audiences, revealed its plans to launch video gaming Olympics last month. The partnership with Saudi Arabia promotes gender equality and engagement with the young esports audience. The IOC’s president, Thomas Bach, expressed confidence in the Saudi committee’s expertise in the esports field.

Sports and entertainment are key components of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 initiative, led by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, to diversify the economy and modernize society. Saudi Arabia has recently secured the hosting rights for several major sports events, including the 2034 World Cup in men’s football, the 2027 Asian Cup, the 2029 Asian Winter Games, and the 2034 Asian Games.

Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Faisal, Saudi Arabia’s sports minister, stated that the country has become a global hub for professional esports. The IOC membership will finalize the agreement during their meeting in Paris on July 23 and 24.