IOC and Saudi Arabia Part Ways: Olympic Esports Games Start from Scratch

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced on Thursday that Saudi Arabia will no longer host the inaugural Olympic Esports Games. The event was originally scheduled for 2027. The IOC and the Saudi National Olympic Committee said they “mutually agreed to end their cooperation.” This marks a major shift in Olympic esports plans.

The Games were first set to take place in Riyadh this year. They were postponed in February. Under a 12-year deal signed in 2025, Saudi Arabia was expected to host until 2037. Then-IOC President Thomas Bach had championed the project. Leadership has since passed to Kirsty Coventry.

Smaller Olympic Esports Series events ran in 2021 and 2023. Critics complained they excluded popular esports titles. After recent talks with Saudi authorities and the Esports World Cup Foundation, both parties decided to pursue separate esports paths.

“This decision allows the Olympic Esports Games to align with the long-term goals of the Olympic movement,” the IOC said. The Games will now start from scratch. There is no host or set timeline.

Integrating esports into the Olympic framework has been difficult. Negotiations with game publishers, forming national teams, and anti-doping rules are complex. The IOC’s “non-violence” rule also bars many popular games.

Saudi Arabia has invested heavily in sports. It hosted the Esports World Cup in Riyadh in 2024 and earlier this year. Critics say these events distract from human rights issues, calling it “sportswashing.” Women’s rights and LGBTQ groups have raised concerns. Saudi authorities deny abuses, saying their laws protect national security.

With Saudi Arabia stepping back, the Olympic Esports Games face a full reset. The IOC must find a new host. It must also navigate regulations and rebuild the project. The goal remains to make esports part of the Olympics while keeping fairness, safety and Olympic values intact.