2025 is the year!

Olympic premiere for e-sports in Saudi Arabia

(Bild: stock.adobe.com)

The International Olympic Committee has awarded the first Olympic e-sports games in 2025 to Saudi Arabia!

At the same time, a twelve-year cooperation with the Gulf state was agreed, as the IOC announced on Friday. According to the announcement, the IOC Executive Board intends to present the proposal at the session on the eve of the opening of the Olympic Games in Paris.

The IOC had only recently announced its intention to introduce e-sports games. It was hoped that this would open up a new target group. However, the inclusion of e-sports in the program of the Summer or Winter Games has been rejected by IOC boss Thomas Bach in the past.

"Have ensured that Olympic values are respected!"
Now he said: "By partnering with the Saudi NOC, we have ensured that Olympic values are respected, especially in terms of the game titles in the program, promoting gender equality and reaching out to the young audience that is passionate about e-sports."

Saudi Arabia has been investing heavily in sport for years through its sovereign wealth fund and has already made major inroads into the soccer, boxing and Formula 1 business, among others. There are also links in the gaming sector with the world soccer association FIFA.

Less dependence on oil, opening up the country
The official goals of the "Vision 2030" state plan are to diversify the economy, become less dependent on oil, open up the country to tourists and offer attractive opportunities for its own population. However, the kingdom is also accused of using its involvement in sport to distract attention from its human rights violations and improve its image.