In a landmark announcement, the IOC has confirmed that Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, will host the inaugural Olympic Esports Games in 2027, in collaboration with the Saudi Arabian National Olympic and Paralympic Committee. The Esports World Cup Foundation will be the founding partner, leveraging their experience from last year’s Esports World Cup. While the qualification process and game selections remain unclear, the IOC has indicated potential categories including virtual sports and esports titles, with a focus on popular games from Riot Games.
Riyadh 2027: The Exciting Future of Olympic Esports
In a thrilling announcement yesterday morning, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) revealed that the inaugural Olympic Esports Games will be hosted in 2027 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia! This landmark event will be organized by the IOC in collaboration with the Saudi Arabian National Olympic and Paralympic Committee (CNOP).
Additionally, the Esports World Cup Foundation (ECWF) has been appointed as the founding partner for these groundbreaking esports Olympics. This partnership is significant as the ECWF is known for organizing the Esports World Cup held in Riyadh last year, thus bringing valuable experience to the table. Their expertise will be crucial in selecting the games and organizing tournaments effectively.
Thomas Bach, the IOC President, stated, “We now have a clear roadmap for the inaugural Olympic Esports Games.” This sentiment was echoed by HRH Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Faisal, who emphasized that the timeline is set, with planning for the journey to the Olympic esports Games starting in 2025.
While the framework is in place, the specifics regarding the qualification process for the competitors remain unclear. Initially, the event was slated for 2025, but it appears more time is needed to finalize the selection of games and the qualification criteria for teams and players. Integrating a new competition into an already packed calendar, especially for popular games like League of Legends, poses additional challenges.
Perhaps this extra time will enable better organization and planning for the event’s success.
Regardless of the hurdles, it will be fascinating to watch the development of this ambitious project!
Awaiting Official Game Selections
Following the announcement, one of the most pressing questions is about which games will be featured in the first edition of the Olympic Esports Games.
As of now, no games have been officially announced! However, the IOC has outlined three primary categories to consider: virtual sports (such as Zwift), sports simulations (like NBA 2K and EA FC), and traditional esports titles across PC, mobile, and console platforms.
While the official list is pending, it seems likely that titles from Riot Games will be included. Recently, Riot Games entered a three-year partnership with the ECWF, ensuring that popular titles such as League of Legends, Valorant, and Teamfight Tactics will be a part of the Esports World Cup for the next three editions. This connection to the Olympics feels imminent, though we must wait for formal confirmation.
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