Saudi Arabia to Host the First Electronic Games Olympiad in 2025

Saudi Arabia will host the inaugural edition of the Electronic Olympic Games in 2025, as officially announced by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on Friday.

“The International Olympic Committee announced today their partnership with the Saudi National Olympic Committee to host the opening of the 2025 e-Olympic Games in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,” the IOC said in a statement.

The partnership between the IOC and the Saudi National Olympic Committee will span 12 years, with the eSports Olympic Games being held regularly.

German IOC President Thomas Bach stated, “We are very fortunate to be able to work with the Saudi National Olympic Committee on the Olympic eSports Games because they have great, if not unique, experience in the field of eSports.”

Saudi Minister of Sports, Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal, expressed the Kingdom’s excitement about the partnership. “The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is very excited to partner with the International Olympic Committee and help welcome a completely new era for international sports,” he said.

He added, “We believe that competing in the Olympic Games is one of the greatest honors for any athlete. We are proud to support the writing of a new chapter in Olympic history that has the potential to inspire new dreams and new ambitions for millions of athletes around the world.”

Prince Abdulaziz also highlighted the significance of the event: “Being the first-ever Olympic Games for electronic sports, there is still a lot to consider and plan with the International Olympic Committee. However, we are committed to hosting a special event that respects and celebrates Olympic values while boldly leveraging the momentum to advance electronic sports with the international platform that the sport and its athletes deserve. The world will have an open invitation to join us in 2025 and celebrate this moment together.”