The IOC announced the termination of cooperation with Saudi Arabia to host the Olympic eSports Games

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has announced that it is ending its collaboration with the Saudi Arabian National Olympic and Paralympic Committee (SOPC) to host the first esports Olympics.

Previously, the IOC entered into a cooperation agreement with SOPC for 12 years. In July 2024, it was announced that the first Olympic eSports Games would take place in Saudi Arabia in 2025, but were subsequently postponed to 2027.

— The IOC and SOPC discussed in detail the concept of the Olympic eSports Games in line with the partnership they announced in 2024.

Recently, both parties and the Esports World Cup Foundation met again and reviewed this initiative. They mutually agreed to terminate cooperation on hosting the Olympic eSports Games. At the same time, both parties intend to develop their esports ambitions in different ways. The IOC, for its part, will develop a new approach to the Olympic eSports Games and will use a new partnership model.

This approach will better align the Olympic eSports Games with the long-term ambitions of the Olympic Movement and expand opportunities to host the first Games as quickly as possible,” the IOC said in a statement on its website.