Gaming IndustryIt’s official: International Olympic Committee votes to confirm the first Olympic Esports Games will happen in 2025, even if they don’t know the games yetWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
Gaming IndustryIt’s official: International Olympic Committee votes to confirm the first Olympic Esports Games will happen in 2025, even if they don’t know the games yetWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Greg Martin / IOC)
The Olympic Esports Games are planned for an initial run of 12 years, with events held “regularly”, and IOC President Thomas Bach says this shows the IOC “keeping up with the pace of the digital revolution.” He goes on to say that “the NOC of Saudi Arabia will bring great—if not unique—experience in the field of esports to this project. This partnership is based on the Olympic Charter and the Olympic values.” More on which shortly.
The IOC has been testing the waters with esports since 2018, and last year hosted an “Esports week” in Singapore (albeit without any actual esports). The IOC Esports Commission was then directed to devise how an Olympic Esports Games could serve “the interest of the esports community while respecting the Olympic values” and “the promotion of gender equality and engagement with the young audience.”
IOC Member HRH Princess Reema Bandar Al-Saud says bin Salman’s Vision 2030 plan “has delivered a wave of more than 150 reforms that have transformed society, empowering women and youth.” The IOC release goes on to trumpet the growth of women’s sports in Saudi Arabia since 2015, and measures such as equal pay. It neglects to mention women’s rights activist Manahel al-Otaibirecently being sentenced to 11 years in prison, for the crimes of protesting Saudi Arabia’s guardianship law and “going to the shops without wearing an abaya [a robe that covers almost all of the body].”
The confirmation of an Olympic Esports Games means work now begins on selecting a host city and venue for the event, the dates, the games to be included, and the qualification process. The IOC will also create a new structure within itself responsible for running the Olympic Esports Games, which will remain distinct from the Olympic Games themselves in both financing and organisation.
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Whatever the politics behind these things, it is a fact that Saudi Arabia has an awful lot of money and various stakes in the gaming and esports industries. The Saudi Public Investment Fund has significant investments inElectronic Arts, Embracer Group, Take-Two Interactive, Nexon, Capcom, Nintendo, and many others. With esports it most notablyacquired both the major esports organizer ESL Gamingand tournament platform FACEIT.
The principle of the Olympicsis “to build a better world through sport”, with the values of “excellence, respect and friendship”. You be the judge.
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