Saudi Arabia will host the first ever esports Olympics in 2025. This was reported by The Star media outlet.
The International Olympic Committee has announced a partnership with the National Olympic Committee of Saudi Arabia to host the first Olympic Games in esports in 2025 in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The partnership between the IOC and the Saudi Arabian NOC will last for 12 years, and the games will be held on a regular basis.
The International Olympic Committee held the first "Olympic Esports Week" in Singapore in June 2023, consisting of "ten competitions in mixed gender categories." The athletes competed in sailing, cycling, and archery simulations.
Whether there will be similar disciplines in 2025, or whether we will be able to see Olympic athletes playing Dota 2 and Counter-Strike 2, remains a mystery.
"We are very fortunate to be able to work with the Saudi NOC on the Olympic Esports Games, because it has great – if not unique – expertise in the field of esports with all its stakeholders," says the head of the IOC.