Saudi Arabia delays first-ever Olympic Esports Games in 2025

The 2025 Saudi Arabian hosting of the first-ever Olympic Esports Games has been postponed. The event has been rescheduled for 2026 or 2027, according to SportsBusiness, because the organizers need more time to develop a new hosting and funding arrangement. Game publishers expressed worries about the short 2025 schedule, pointing to unknowns over game names, locations, dates, and certification procedures, which prompted the delay. 

Although a new date has not yet been set, it is anticipated to be revealed later this year. The president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Thomas Bach, expressed skepticism in 2018 regarding esports' inclusion in the Olympics, arguing that the violence included in many well-known video games just wasn't consistent with Olympic ideals.

"We cannot have in the Olympic program a game which is promoting violence or discrimination," said Bach during the 2018 Asian Games. “They, from our point of view, are contradictory to the Olympic values and cannot, therefore, be accepted."

There are questions concerning whether many of the violent aspects of today's competitive esports games, such as Call of Duty, Fortnite, PUBG, and Valorant, align with Olympic ideals. This could help to explain why the event is delayed in part due to uncertainties surrounding approved game titles. In July 2024, the IOC and the National Olympic Committee (NOC) of Saudi Arabia teamed up to suggest holding the first Olympic Esports Games in 2025. Regular Olympic esports competitions will take place during the 12-year cooperation.

Esports gained worldwide craze 

Esports has expanded from a specialized hobby to a worldwide craze. Technology developments, widespread internet access, and the emergence of streaming services have all played a part in its phenomenal ascent. Professional athletes today receive large sponsorships and endorsement deals and are regarded as worldwide celebrities. Many spectators, including the esports players who were eagerly anticipating this year's World Cup, may be disappointed by this postponement. With greater preparation time, the 2025 Olympic Esports Games might establish a new standard for international esports competitions.