IOC and Saudi Arabia End 12-Year Esports Olympics Hosting Deal
The International Olympic Committee and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia mutually agree to terminate their long-term partnership to stage the Olympic Esports Games in Riyadh.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) and Saudi Arabia have jointly announced the termination of their 12-year agreement for the Kingdom to host the Olympic Esports Games in Riyadh.
The deal, originally concluded in July 2024 and set to launch the inaugural Games in 2027, will no longer proceed under the existing partnership framework.
In a statement released on 30 October 2025, the IOC stated that following a “Pause and Reflect” process, both parties reviewed the initiative and opted to end cooperation.
The two sides confirmed they will instead pursue separate esports pathways: Saudi Arabia through its own tournaments and the IOC via an independent model suited to the Olympic Movement’s strategic objectives.
Saudi Arabia had been earmarked to host the Games across a 12-year span, aligning with the Kingdom’s broader Vision 2030 ambitions and its heavily-invested esports infrastructure.
The inaugural edition was initially scheduled for this year, later postponed to 2027, and had seen significant backing through the Esports World Cup phenomenon in Riyadh.
The IOC cited the need to “better fit the Olympic Esports Games to the long-term ambitions of the Olympic Movement and to spread the opportunities presented … more widely.” Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund and gaming investments—including a high-profile US$55 billion takeover of a major game developer—have underscored the kingdom’s global esports aspirations.
While the cancellation marks a rare high-profile setback for Saudi Arabia’s sports-event portfolio, including its Vision 2030 strategy, both the IOC and Riyadh have reaffirmed their commitment to esports growth.
The IOC announced plans to establish a new partnership model and unspecified host for the Esports Olympics “as soon as possible,” and Saudi Arabia confirmed it will host the next Esports World Cup and proceed with its own gaming-event roadmap.
Key questions remain about game-title alignment with Olympic values, governance of the event and timing of the new structure.
Nonetheless, this reset signals a significant pivot in how esports and the Olympic brand will converge moving forward.
The deal, originally concluded in July 2024 and set to launch the inaugural Games in 2027, will no longer proceed under the existing partnership framework.
In a statement released on 30 October 2025, the IOC stated that following a “Pause and Reflect” process, both parties reviewed the initiative and opted to end cooperation.
The two sides confirmed they will instead pursue separate esports pathways: Saudi Arabia through its own tournaments and the IOC via an independent model suited to the Olympic Movement’s strategic objectives.
Saudi Arabia had been earmarked to host the Games across a 12-year span, aligning with the Kingdom’s broader Vision 2030 ambitions and its heavily-invested esports infrastructure.
The inaugural edition was initially scheduled for this year, later postponed to 2027, and had seen significant backing through the Esports World Cup phenomenon in Riyadh.
The IOC cited the need to “better fit the Olympic Esports Games to the long-term ambitions of the Olympic Movement and to spread the opportunities presented … more widely.” Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund and gaming investments—including a high-profile US$55 billion takeover of a major game developer—have underscored the kingdom’s global esports aspirations.
While the cancellation marks a rare high-profile setback for Saudi Arabia’s sports-event portfolio, including its Vision 2030 strategy, both the IOC and Riyadh have reaffirmed their commitment to esports growth.
The IOC announced plans to establish a new partnership model and unspecified host for the Esports Olympics “as soon as possible,” and Saudi Arabia confirmed it will host the next Esports World Cup and proceed with its own gaming-event roadmap.
Key questions remain about game-title alignment with Olympic values, governance of the event and timing of the new structure.
Nonetheless, this reset signals a significant pivot in how esports and the Olympic brand will converge moving forward.
