IOC announces Olympic Esports Games to be hosted in Saudi Arabia
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has announced a landmark
partnership with the National Olympic Committee (NOC) of Saudi Arabia to host
the inaugural Olympic Esports Games 2025. This groundbreaking event is part of
the IOC's recent initiative to establish Olympic Esports Games, a proposal that
will be presented to the IOC Session on the eve of the Olympic Games Paris
2024.
The partnership between the IOC and the Saudi NOC spans 12 years, with plans
to hold the Olympic Esports Games regularly. IOC President Thomas Bach
expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration, citing Saudi Arabia's unique
expertise in esports and commitment to Olympic values, including gender
equality and youth engagement.
HRH Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Faisal, Minister of Sport and President of
the Saudi Arabian Olympic and Paralympic Committee, highlighted Saudi Arabia's
excitement about hosting the event and its potential to inspire new ambitions
for athletes worldwide. He emphasized the country's dedication to hosting a
special event that respects and celebrates Olympic values while advancing the
esports industry.
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Saudi Arabia's Esports Prowess
Saudi Arabia, supported by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, has become a
global hub for professional esports, with over 23 million gamers. Hosting the
Olympic Esports Games is seen as a natural progression for the country's
burgeoning esports community. The Kingdom's Vision 2030 has driven significant
growth in sports, with over 100 international events held since 2018,
attracting over 2.6 million sports fans.
Growth in Sports Participation
Sports participation in Saudi Arabia has more than tripled since 2015, with
nearly 50% of the population now engaged in sports. The number of sports
federations has increased from 32 to 98, including the rapidly growing Saudi
Esports Federation. Approximately 67% of the Saudi population considers
themselves gamers, with 100 professional esports players pursuing full-time
careers.
Women's sports have also seen rapid growth, with nearly half of the
Kingdom's gamers being female. There are now over 330,000 registered female
athletes and nearly 40 women's national teams competing internationally.
Grassroots sports are thriving, with sport integrated into the school
curriculum for all girls. Reforms ensure female representation on sports federation
boards, with over 100 women, including seven female federation presidents, now
appointed. Female and male athletes receive equal pay when representing their
sports nationally.
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Looking Ahead
Princess Reema Bandar Al-Saud, an IOC Member and President of the Women's
Committee, expressed excitement about the growing female participation in
esports. She highlighted the positive impact of sports on women and girls under
Vision 2030 and looked forward to the Olympic Esports Games providing a safe
and inclusive space for global female participation.
IOC President Bach praised the Women's Committee's role in advancing women's
sports in Saudi Arabia and welcomed their support in promoting female participation
in esports.
With the announcement made, the next steps include selecting a city and
venue for the inaugural Olympic Esports Games, determining the event's timing,
the titles to be included, the qualification process for players, and other
details. The IOC plans to work with International Federations and National
Olympic Committees already engaged in esports to ensure a successful and
well-organized event.
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The IOC will create a new dedicated structure within its organization to
handle the unique aspects of the Olympic Esports Games, separate from the
traditional Olympic Games' organizational and financial models. This approach
will address the specific nature of the Olympic Esports Games and ensure their
success.
Source: https://olympics.com/
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