Olympic Esports Games Set to Debut in 2027
By “There is now a distinctly defined pathway to the groundbreaking first-ever Olympic Esports Games,” states IOC president
The first Olympic Esports Games will now take place in 2027.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) declared plans for an Olympic Esports Games in October 2023, initially announcing that the first Olympic Esports Games would occur in Saudi Arabia in 2025.
However, according to EsportsInsider, the event has been postponed to 2027 “due to ongoing issues regarding the format and a deficiency of details on essential components of the program by game developers,” along with challenges related to funding and logistics.
It is anticipated that Saudi Arabia will host the competition for the 2027 games along with two additional Olympic cycles (2031 and 2035).
The Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF), the event’s organizers, will also become a Founding Partner of the Olympic Esports Games in collaboration with the IOC, working to “align national esports frameworks with broader global standards.”
“There is now a distinctly defined pathway to the groundbreaking first-ever Olympic Esports Games,” affirmed Thomas Bach, IOC president.
“With the journey to the Olympic Esports Games commencing this year, the Games are becoming a reality. This further illustrates the strength of the alliance between the IOC and the SOPC in numerous areas.”
Esports was included in the 2022 Commonwealth Games, but will not feature in the 2026 event.
Saudi Arabia has increasingly engaged in the gaming and esports sector over the past few years, having allocated $38 billion through its Public Investment Fund. The PIF holds shares in various companies including