Level up? More like restart! The International Olympic Committee (IOC) and Saudi Arabia just pressed the reset button on their 12-year plan to host the Olympic Esports Games in Riyadh 🎮. Announced last year on the eve of the Paris Olympics, the inaugural event was already pushed to 2027.
Part of Saudi Vision2030, this gaming mega-project was championed by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS), a huge video-game fan. Seven months into Kirsty Coventry's term as IOC president, both sides agreed their paths were diverging.
At the heart of the game? Picking titles. Saudi's Esports World Cup features shooters like "Call of Duty" and "Street Fighter", but the IOC wanted to make sure every game hit those Olympic values and connected with a global youth audience.
Instead of a game-over, both the IOC and Saudi Arabia will chase their own esports ambitions. Saudi still backs its annual World Cup—and the PIF's big moves like the Electronic Arts deal—while the IOC will develop a fresh model for Olympic gaming events.
Where to next? Singapore, which hosted a week-long esports showcase in 2023, or the Chinese mainland—home to the Hangzhou Asian Games esports matches in 2022—are front-runners to host the first Games as soon as possible.
For news enthusiasts, young pros, and game-changers in Latin America and beyond, this reset is more than a plot twist. It’s a chance to watch new strategies unfold and discover where esports will power up next 🚀.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
