As for the year ahead, the Olympic eSports Games are set to begin for the first time.
Over the years, the IOC has made the rigid decision to host the Olympic Esports Games strictly in the territorial domain of Saudi Arabia for a period of twelve years.
This collaboration, uniting the IOC and the Saudi National Olympic Committee (NOC), heralds the recurring establishment of the Olympic Esports Games. According to a joint proclamation on Friday, the maiden event is slated for 2025.
Saudi Arabia’s fervent investment in esports is evident, with the recent hosting of the Esports World Cup in Riyadh standing as a testament.
“We are immensely privileged to collaborate with the Saudi NOC on the Olympic Esports Games, given their unparalleled prowess and extensive involvement in the esports domain alongside its various stakeholders. This venture will indubitably benefit from such profound expertise,” remarked IOC President Thomas Bach.
“Aligning with the Saudi NOC ensures the preservation of Olympic ethos, especially regarding the selection of game titles, the advocacy for gender parity, and engagement with the youthful demographic that ardently embraces esports.”
HRH Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Faisal, Minister of Sport and President of the Saudi Arabian Olympic and Paralympic Committee, expressed: The partner, Saudi Arabia, would like this partnership with the IOC to be a new beginning to something big in the world of sports. Hence, being part of the Olympic Games is one of the greatest dreams any athlete can dream of. As much as KSA is diversifying its dreams and developing the tourism, business, leisure, and sporting segments, it is also willing to pen down the new chapter on the Olympics, willing to kindle new dreams and visions for as many athletes as possible.
Saudi Arabia is investing $38 billion to establish a video-game hub as part of its efforts to diversify away from oil and revitalize its youth culture. Source: Photographer: Yong Teck Lim/Getty Images
The kingdom’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) has diversified investment within the video game, especially in the recent moment, particularly within the realm of thought by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to catalyze the Saudi economy from oil endowment.
Giant companies in the video-gaming industry, such as Electronic Arts Inc., Take-Two Interactive Software Inc., and Nintendo Co., among others, have large capitals from the PIF.
Nevertheless, PIF has remained an investor in game companies, which has raised eyebrows among many people because of Saudi Arabia’s long history of human rights abuses. They have forever referred to such tactics as’sportswashing’, taking their rant to the fact that it aimed at enhancing the image of the country internationally.
