Saudi Arabia to Host Future Editions of the Esports Olympiad
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has officially selected the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to host the upcoming editions of the Esports-Olympic Games from 2025 to 2037.
The decision was approved during the 142nd General Assembly of the IOC in Paris, following the announcement of a partnership on July 12 between the IOC, based in Lausanne, Switzerland, and the Saudi Olympic Committee, ensuring the tournament’s hosting for 12 years.
Thomas Bach, the German President of the IOC, emphasized that the e-Olympic Games will have a “completely separate” structure from traditional Olympic events and will be funded independently. He highlighted that the television broadcast rights will offer a clear insight into the economic potential of this burgeoning sector.
Bach affirmed that awarding these rights to Saudi Arabia aligns “fully with the Olympic Charter and values.”
The IOC had previously declared that Saudi Arabia would host the inaugural edition in 2025.
“We are very fortunate to collaborate with the Saudi National Olympic Committee on the Olympic eSports Games, as they possess significant, if not unique, expertise in the field of eSports,” Bach stated at the time.
Saudi Minister of Sports, Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal, expressed his enthusiasm: “As the first-ever eSports Olympic Games, we recognize that there is still much to consider and plan alongside the IOC. However, we are committed to hosting a remarkable event that respects and celebrates Olympic values, while boldly propelling eSports onto the international stage the sport and its athletes deserve. The world will have an open invitation to join us in 2025 to celebrate this historic moment together.”
The Gulf Kingdom is heavily investing millions of dollars into organizing international sporting events and has made substantial investments in various global sports. It has hosted a Formula One Grand Prix, the Dakar Desert Rally, the World Cup for Handball Clubs, the Spanish and Italian Super Cups in football, the World Heavyweight Boxing Championship, and one of the “LIV Golf” rounds.
Last year, Saudi Arabia hosted exhibition tennis matches featuring Spaniards Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz in the men’s category, and another between Tunisian Ons Jabeur and Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka. Additionally, Saudi Arabia appointed Nadal as an ambassador for the Saudi Tennis Federation.
Riyadh, the Kingdom’s capital, was selected to host the final WTA Women’s Championship from late 2024 to 2026 and the Asian Winter Games in 2029.
Major Saudi clubs, with state support, have signed numerous top football stars to play in the Saudi League. The Kingdom has also hosted a series of high-profile boxing matches, including a heavyweight unification bout between Ukrainian fighter Oleksandr Usyk and British fighter Tyson Fury earlier this year.
Notably, Saudi Arabia is the sole candidate to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup, with the official selection expected later this year.
With Saudi Arabia hosting the first-ever eSports Olympic Games in 2025, excitement is building worldwide. UAE sports fans can get in on the action with Betway, the top online betting site in UAE. Betway offers the best odds and a smooth betting experience for all major events, including this groundbreaking eSports competition.
