Olympic Esports Games Delayed to 2027 in Saudi Arabia

The world of gaming heard great news today when the International Olympic Committee announced the delay of two years in its first Olympic Esports Games. The innovative event will be hosted in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in 2027.

Breaking Down the Delay

The IOC’s flagship esports event, scheduled for 2025, is a milestone in competitive gaming history. Although the organizing committee has not disclosed specific reasons for the delay, they confirmed that qualification rounds will kick off this year.

New Partnership Shapes the Future

This comes in the most thrilling news after the Esports World Cup Foundation has become the first founding partner of the Olympic Esports Games. This comes in handy in a way where the EWCF is going to support the building of:

Game selection processes
Tournament structures
Ecosystem engagement strategies

Saudi Arabia’s Rising Gaming Empire

The decision of Saudi as a host nation itself is to acknowledge the rapid influence of this country in esports. Here are a few points as to why Riyadh is so enticing:

Over 67% of Saudi citizens are gamers
The country has more than 100 professional esports athletes
The country recently hosted the Esports World Cup with a record-breaking $60M prize pool
Successfully organized more than 100 international sporting events since 2018

What This Means for Competitive Gaming

Olympic Esports Games is a key milestone in competitive gaming. International Federations already engaged in digital versions of their respective sports shall have priority consideration for the event. This way, it will ensure a great foundations built on well-established communities of esports.

The Road Ahead

IOC President Thomas Bach underlined a clear roadmap forward: “With the Road to the Olympic Esports Games kicking off this year, the Games are becoming a reality.” A 12-year hosting agreement with Saudi Arabia guarantees long-term stability for this pioneering venture.

What does this historical development for esports mean? Give your thoughts in the comments below! Be sure to follow us in our Discord community to find all of our discussions regarding Olympic esports future development.

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