The highly anticipated first edition of the Olympic Esports Games that was scheduled to take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in 2027 will not be happening.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee (SOPC), alongside the Esports World Cup Foundation, have mutually agreed to end their cooperation on the Olympic Esports Games.
This decision follows extensive discussions that were part of a partnership announced between the IOC and SOPC back in 2024, the IOC wrote.
What’s going to happen to the Olympic Esports Games now?
Despite the recent termination of its partnership with Saudi Arabia, the International Olympic Committee is forging ahead with new plans for the Olympic Esports Games.
For its part, the IOC is set to develop a new approach to the games that incorporates feedback gathered from a recent “Pause and Reflect” process that focuses on establishing a new partnership model.
This move, according to the IOC, would better align the Olympic Esports Games with the long-term goals of the Olympic Movement. It also aims to broaden the opportunities presented by the Games, with the primary objective of hosting the inaugural event as soon as possible.
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The inaugural edition of the IOC’s event series, the Olympic Esports Week, was held in Singapore in June 2023. This event was a major step in the IOC’s engagement with the esports community.
Building on this success, the IOC announced during the 142nd IOC Session on February 11, 2025 that the first-ever official Olympic Esports Games were slated to be held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in 2027.
While the joint effort has ended, both parties remain committed to pursuing their own esports ambitions on separate paths.
