The first-ever Olympic Esports Games are heading to the Middle East in 2025, thanks to a new agreement between the International Olympic Committee and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The 2025 event will be the first part of the IOC’s 12-year deal with Saudi Arabia’s National Olympic Committee. But the final details about where and when it will take place next year have yet to be revealed.
Via IGN, the French newspaper L’Equipe is reporting that video game companies like Capcom, Riot Games, and Epic Games are under consideration for partnerships with the IOC for next year’s event. If those deals go through, titles like Street Fighter 6, League of Legends, and Rocket League could be included at the 2025 Olympic Esports Games. Saudi Arabia is already a major investor in video game companies, including Embracer, EA, Take-Two, and Activision Blizzard. Additionally, Saudi Arabia is the largest outside investor of Nintendo, with 8% of the video game publisher.
“We are a youthful nation, with over 23 million gamers, embracing the future with new thinking and partnerships,” said Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Faisal in a statement. “Supported by His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, our Kingdom has become a global hub for professional esports. Hosting this event is the result of a rich past, an exciting present and a promising future for the industry in the Kingdom. This is a natural next step for our young athletes, our country and the global esports community.”
The esports outreach is the latest step in Saudi Arabia’s attempt to rehabilitate its reputation for its horrific human rights violations against women and LGBT people. Prince Mohammed bin Salman himself has reportedly been linked to the 2018 death and dismemberment of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. But as long as organizations like the IOC and WWE are still willing to accept Saudi Arabia’s money to hold events in that country, then the kingdom’s efforts to reframe itself in more positive terms appear to be working.
