Saudi Arabia No Longer Hosting Olympic Esports Games

The planned Olympic Esports Games in Saudi Arabia, initially set for 2027, have been cancelled due to a mutual agreement to end the partnership between the involved parties. This decision was made following an internal review by the International Olympic Committee, the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee, and the Esports World Foundation. According to the IOC, all parties have decided to pursue their esports goals separately, with the IOC focusing on developing a new approach and seeking an alternative partnership model. The IOC aims to create a better alignment between the Olympic Esports Games and the long-term objectives of the Olympic Movement, with the goal of hosting the inaugural games as soon as possible. In a separate statement, the Esports World Foundation announced that it has ended its cooperation on the project, thanking the IOC and the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee for their open and collaborative dialogue over the past year. The foundation acknowledged the shared ambition to promote digital competitions globally and recognized the inspiration esports brings to millions of fans and athletes worldwide. The Olympic Esports Games were first announced in 2023, with the initial plan being to hold the event in Saudi Arabia in 2025, before it was postponed to 2027 due to concerns about the format and lack of details from game publishers.