The upcoming inaugural Olympic Esports Games in 2025 will be hosted by Saudi Arabia according to the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The IOC announced its partnership with the Saudi Arabian Olympic & Paralympic Committee on Friday. According to the announcement, this new partnership between the IOC and Saudi Arabia will last 12 years.
“Saudi Arabia is hugely excited by the prospect of partnering with the IOC and helping to welcome a completely new era for international sport. We believe that to take part in the Olympic Games is one of the greatest honours any athlete can achieve. And we are proud to support the writing of a new chapter in Olympic history that has the potential to inspire new dreams and new ambitions for literally millions of athletes around the world,” said HRH Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Faisal, Minister of Sport and President of the Saudi Arabian Olympic and Paralympic Committee.
“…We are a youthful nation, with over 23 million gamers, embracing the future with new thinking and partnerships. Supported by His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, our Kingdom has become a global hub for professional esports. Hosting this event is the result of a rich past, an exciting present and a promising future for the industry in the Kingdom. This is a natural next step for our young athletes, our country and the global esports community.”
Unsurprisingly, the announcement is not without controversy. Despite Saudi Arabia’s increase in investing within the video game industry over the years, the country has been criticized for its many human rights failures over the years, particularly on women and LGBTQ rights. Saudi Arabia’s switch towards video games is thanks to efforts by its prince.
The country has invested in a variety of big video game companies and studios, including Embracer Group and Nintendo. Additionally, Saudi Arabia is financing and hosting for this years Esports World Cup, much to fans disappointment. It’s even alledged that the country would be hosting the third event in this years EVO.