US EditionIOC and Saudi Arabia cancel their 12-year deal to host video gaming Esports Olympics in Riyadh
- On October 30, 2025, the International Olympic Committee and the Saudi National Olympic Committee mutually ended a 12-year esports hosting deal, canceling Riyadh's inaugural Esports Olympics.
- The IOC's `non-violence` criteria exclude shooter games like Call of Duty and Counter-Strike featured in the Esports World Cup, while negotiations with game publishers and national anti-doping bodies proved difficult.
- Saudi investment extended to gaming with the Public Investment Fund's $55 billion Electronic Arts buyout, while the Esports World Cup 2025 in Riyadh drew 1,500 players from more than 100 countries with a $71.5 million prize pool.
- Without a host or timetable, the Esports Games must start from scratch and the International Olympic Committee will develop a new approach and pursue a new partnership model.
- The Esports World Cup Foundation said it will launch the Esports Nations Cup in November 2026 in Riyadh with major publishers involved, while the IOC could consider returning to Singapore.
79 Articles
79 Articles
Saudi Arabia loses hosting rights for Olympic Esports Game
Geneva: The International Olympic Committee (IOC) and Saudi Arabia have canceled their 12-year deal to host the video gaming Esports Olympics in Riyadh. The IOC said on Thursday, October 29, they “mutually agreed that they will end their cooperation on the Olympic Esports Games.” It is a rare failure for a Saudi-backed sports project that was a key part of the Vision 2030 program driven by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. “At the same time, bot…
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced on Thursday that Saudi Arabia will no longer host the first esports Olympic Games scheduled for 2027.
Olympic Esports Games faces further delay
The Olympic Esports Games might see further delay as the International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced that they have ended their cooperation with the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee (SOPC) in terms of the inaugural games.
Omaha World-Herald
IOC, Saudi Arabia cancel 12-year deal to host video gaming Esports Olympics in Riyadh
GENEVA — The IOC and Saudi Arabia have canceled their 12-year deal to host the video gaming Esports Olympics in Riyadh in a rare setback for a sports project backed by the oil-rich kingdom.
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