The first Olympic Esports Games will not take place in 2025, but only in 2027. This was announced by the IOC, along with two new partnerships.
In July 2024, “the International Olympic Committee made history,” as the press release stated: the Olympic eSports Games were created. They should have taken place as early as 2025, but were postponed to either 2026 or 2027 due to concerns on the part of the organizers.
Since Tuesday, there has been clarity in this regard: the Olympic Esport Games will start in 2027 – the road to the Games is to be opened this year. IOC President Thomas Bach says: “There is now a very clear roadmap for the historic first Olympic Esports Games. With the launch of the Road to the Olympic Esports Games this year, the Games will become a reality.”
As part of this announcement, the IOC also announced that it would be working with the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee (SOPC) to organize the event. The cooperation between the IOC and the SOPC was the main topic of a meeting between the Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, IOC President Thomas Bach and the President of the SOPC and Minister of Sports, Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Faisal, in Riyadh on Sunday.
Roadmap is set – disciplines are not yet known
In addition, the Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) will be a founding partner of the Olympic eSports Games. “The partnership between the IOC and EWCF is designed to have a lasting impact, bridging the gap between eSports and traditional sports while expanding opportunities for players and teams to represent their countries,” the IOC said in an official statement.
However, it is still unclear which disciplines will be included in the Olympic eSports Games. At the SPOBIS 2025 in Hamburg, ESL Chief Marketing Officer Rodrigo Samwell made some suggestions in this regard.
