IOC and Saudi Arabia End Ambitious 12-Year Esports Games Partnership
The International Olympic Committee and Saudi Arabia mutually terminate their agreement to host the Olympic Esports Games after just over a year.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) and Saudi Arabia have mutually agreed to terminate their 12-year partnership to host the Olympic Esports Games, the governing body announced on Thursday.
Two years ahead of the first event, previously scheduled for Riyadh in 2027, the deal has been abandoned after 14 months of collaboration.
The original agreement, struck in July 2024, pledged Saudi Arabia would host the inaugural iteration of the event in 2025 under a long-term 12-year hosting arrangement.
At the time, the IOC characterised the kingdom as bringing “great — if not unique — expertise” in esports and facilitating youth and gender engagement in line with Olympic values.
Saudi officials framed it as a key element of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 diversification strategy.
In the statement ending the deal, the IOC explained that it and the Saudi Arabian Olympic and Paralympic Committee, together with the Esports World Cup Foundation, had reviewed progress and “mutually agreed that they will end their cooperation on the Olympic Esports Games”.
Both parties indicated they will advance their esports ambitions via separate tracks.
The IOC said it will now develop a new approach and partnership model for the Olympic Esports Games, seeking to better align the initiative with broader aims of the Olympic Movement and expedite the realisation of the event.
Saudi Arabia will continue to host other esports activities and expand its gaming infrastructure independently.
Saudi Arabia had invested heavily in esports and gaming events as part of its global sports expansion, though some observers cautioned that such moves might also serve broader geopolitical or reputational goals.
With the hosting deal cancelled, focus now shifts to how the IOC will reorganise its esports strategy and how Saudi Arabia will proceed with its gaming-market ambitions.
The termination of the agreement leaves unresolved details about the first edition of the Olympic Esports Games, including where it will be held, when it will launch and under what hosting model.
The IOC and its partners now face a new race to deliver a credible platform for esports on the Olympic scale.
Two years ahead of the first event, previously scheduled for Riyadh in 2027, the deal has been abandoned after 14 months of collaboration.
The original agreement, struck in July 2024, pledged Saudi Arabia would host the inaugural iteration of the event in 2025 under a long-term 12-year hosting arrangement.
At the time, the IOC characterised the kingdom as bringing “great — if not unique — expertise” in esports and facilitating youth and gender engagement in line with Olympic values.
Saudi officials framed it as a key element of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 diversification strategy.
In the statement ending the deal, the IOC explained that it and the Saudi Arabian Olympic and Paralympic Committee, together with the Esports World Cup Foundation, had reviewed progress and “mutually agreed that they will end their cooperation on the Olympic Esports Games”.
Both parties indicated they will advance their esports ambitions via separate tracks.
The IOC said it will now develop a new approach and partnership model for the Olympic Esports Games, seeking to better align the initiative with broader aims of the Olympic Movement and expedite the realisation of the event.
Saudi Arabia will continue to host other esports activities and expand its gaming infrastructure independently.
Saudi Arabia had invested heavily in esports and gaming events as part of its global sports expansion, though some observers cautioned that such moves might also serve broader geopolitical or reputational goals.
With the hosting deal cancelled, focus now shifts to how the IOC will reorganise its esports strategy and how Saudi Arabia will proceed with its gaming-market ambitions.
The termination of the agreement leaves unresolved details about the first edition of the Olympic Esports Games, including where it will be held, when it will launch and under what hosting model.
The IOC and its partners now face a new race to deliver a credible platform for esports on the Olympic scale.
