International Olympic Committee Ends Esports Partnership with Saudi Arabia
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has announced the mutual termination of its esports partnership with the Saudi Arabian Olympic and Paralympic Committee (SOPC). This decision ends the collaboration that was finalized in 2024 and initially planned to last 12 years.
Background and Impact
The partnership aimed to host the Olympic Esports Games biennially, with the first event originally scheduled for 2025 but later postponed to 2027. This agreement followed significant investments, including Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) and other stakeholders contributing $550 billion towards acquiring Electronic Arts (EA), signaling major shifts in the esports industry.
Future Directions
The IOC and SOPC now intend to pursue independent esports initiatives rather than continuing their joint efforts. In the IOC’s latest statement, they expressed a commitment to:
- Advancing Olympic esports opportunities independently
- “More broadly disseminate the opportunities presented by Olympic esports”
- Host the inaugural Olympic Esports Games “as soon as possible”
Both sides are “committed to pursuing their own esports ambitions on their own independent paths.”
Previous Discussions
Earlier talks by the IOC involved potential collaborations with gaming publishers for titles like Rocket League, Street Fighter, and League of Legends to be part of the Olympic Esports Games.
Author's Summary
This termination reshapes Olympic esports ambitions, reflecting evolving investment landscapes and a shift towards independent esports projects by the IOC and Saudi Arabia.