The creation of the Olympic Esports Games was confirmed during the ongoing 142nd Session of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in Paris on Tuesday, with the debut of the new competition scheduled for 2025 in Saudi Arabia.
"This is truly a new era for the IOC," said International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach. "With the confirmation by the IOC Session of the creation of the Olympic Esports Games, we are keeping up with the pace of the digital revolution."
When asked if esports will be included in the Summer Olympics one day by CGTN Sports Scene's Greg Laffradi, Bach said discussions on the issue have been taking place "for a number of years." Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) President David Lappartient once suggested, according to Bach, that the physical demands for virtual and traditional cycling are "more or less" the same.
The IOC announced on July 12 that it has partnered with the National Olympic Committee (NOC) of Saudi Arabia to host the inaugural Olympic Esports Games in the country in 2025, a move which has been unanimously endorsed by the IOC Executive Board.
"The esports community, represented in our Esports Commission, has enthusiastically engaged with this initiative. This is further proof of the attractivity of the Olympic Brand and the values it stands for among young people," said Bach.
"The NOC of Saudi Arabia will bring great – if not unique – experience in the field of esports to this project. This partnership is based on the Olympic Charter and the Olympic Values," he added.
Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Faisal, Minister of Sport and President of the Saudi Arabian Olympic and Paralympic Committee, emphasized the significance of the initiative.
"Our commitment to esports is simply a reflection of the world our young people live in. We now all have the chance to write new Olympic history together," he said.
"The story of sport in Saudi Arabia is a story of transformation," added IOC member Princess Reema Bandar Al-Saud, who is also a board member of the Saudi Arabian Olympic and Paralympic Committee.
"With over 23.5 million gamers, many of whom are women, hosting the Olympic Esports Games in 2025 is a natural progression in our journey to open up Saudi Arabia to the world and the world to Saudi Arabia," she said.
Saudi Arabia has quickly become a hub for esports, hosting numerous international tournaments with significant participation and global viewership over the last two years.
According to the IOC, the planning for the Olympic Esports Games will commence immediately, focusing on the selection of a city and venue, game titles, and the qualification process for participants.
Additionally, the IOC will establish a dedicated structure for the Games, distinct from the traditional Olympic Model, to better address the unique nature of esports.
"It is clearly a milestone because we are entering a new ground, but we are entering this new ground on a very firm base," Bach said of the Olympic Esports Games.
The IOC held its Esports Forum in July 2018, following the sixth Olympic Summit in Lausanne the previous year, during which the development of esports was introduced as a main topic.
In 2023, the Olympic Esports Week was held in Singapore, after which Bach asked the IOC Esports Commission at the 141st IOC Session in Mumbai, India, to study the creation of the Olympic Esports Games.
(With input from agencies)