In a historic move, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has announced the creation of the Olympic Esports Games, with the inaugural event scheduled for 2025 in Saudi Arabia. This decision, made during the 142nd IOC Session in Paris, marks a significant shift in the IOC’s approach to the evolving sports landscape, reflecting its commitment to engaging with modern digital trends.
The IOC’s engagement with esports began in 2018 and gained momentum with the Olympic Esports Week held in Singapore in 2023. However, the event faced criticism over its game lineup, which included “Gran Turismo 7,” “Just Dance,” a version of “Fortnite” where players shoot targets instead of people, and obscure games like “Zwift” and “Tic Tac Bow.” Despite this criticism, the IOC has officially approved the creation of the Olympic Esports Games. The event will be organized in collaboration with the National Olympic Committee (NOC) of Saudi Arabia for the next 12 years. This partnership underscores the IOC's effort to integrate esports into the Olympic movement, acknowledging the growing influence and popularity of competitive gaming among younger audiences. IOC President Thomas Bach emphasized that this initiative is a response to the digital revolution, aimed at maintaining the Olympic brand's relevance and appeal.
Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, championed by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, has significantly boosted the country’s commitment to esports. Saudi Arabia has already established itself as a key player in the esports industry, hosting major international tournaments and attracting millions of fans. The country’s experience and investment in esports, coupled with its rapid growth in sports participation and infrastructure, make it a fitting host for the Olympic Esports Games. In preparation for the event, the IOC will select a city and venue in Saudi Arabia and establish a dedicated structure for organizing and financing the games. The IOC plans to collaborate with International Federations that already feature esports versions of their sports and with National Olympic Committees that have esports programs. Additionally, the Olympic Esports Games will be a standalone event separate from the main Olympic Games, and it has not yet been revealed whether winners will receive medals. Last year, participants in the Olympic Esports Series received only small trophies.
Despite the excitement surrounding the announcement, the choice of games for the Olympic Esports Games has sparked some controversy. Unlike traditional esports tournaments, the IOC has decided to exclude violent games, such as first-person shooters, from the event. This decision aligns with the IOC’s policy of maintaining the Olympic brand’s values, which exclude games featuring visible violence. As a result, popular titles like "Counter-Strike 2" and "Call of Duty" will not be featured. It is also uncertain whether this stance includes fighting games such as “Street Fighter 6,” which was part of a separate exhibition event during Olympic Esports Week last year but was omitted from the main Olympic Esports Series lineup. Another indicator of what to expect comes from the 2022 Commonwealth Games, which included “Rocket League,” “Dota 2,” and “eFootball.” The specific selection of games remains unclear, and concerns have been raised about the competitive relevance and popularity of the games that might be included.