The Olympic Esports Games: A New Era or a Kingdom’s Playground?

In July 2024, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced the creation of the Olympic Esports Games—a standalone event set to occur every two years between the Summer and Winter Olympics. For the next 12 years, Saudi Arabia will serve as the host country, thanks to a long-term partnership between the IOC and Saudi Arabia’s Olympic and Paralympic Committee (SOPC). The inaugural event, initially planned for 2025, was postponed to 2027 due to logistical challenges and disagreements with game publishers over game selection.

But if you were expecting the biggest esports titles to make an Olympic debut, think again. IOC President Thomas Bach made it clear that there’s a “red line that we will never cross” when it comes to violent games being featured in the event. Instead, the Olympic Esports Games will build on the Olympic Virtual Series launched in 2021, focusing on “phygital” titles in archery, baseball, chess, cycling, dance, motorsport, sailing, taekwondo, and tennis—games that, let’s be honest, barely scratch the surface of mainstream esports.

What’s even more interesting is the absence of South Korea and China—the two nations that once led the push for esports’ inclusion in the Olympics. Now, it’s Saudi Arabia taking the lead.

Saudi Arabia’s Power Play in Esports

The Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) is the funding partner behind the Olympic Esports Games, tasked with creating qualification pathways, tournament structures, and promoting esports growth. Looking back, it’s clear that events like Gamers8 and the Esports World Cup weren’t just passion projects—they were Saudi Arabia’s way of proving its capability to host large-scale esports events, all while positioning itself as a global industry leader.

This move isn’t out of nowhere. In 2022, Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), through Savvy Gaming Group, acquired major esports companies like ESL and FACEIT, merging them into the ESL FACEIT Group. The acquisition sparked concerns over monopoly risks and accusations of sportswashing. Critics and human rights organizations pointed out that Saudi Arabia was using esports to deflect attention from its human rights record—highlighting issues like the repression of women’s rights activists, severe penalties for dissent, and the criminalization of LGBTQ+ communities.

While some players and organizations chose to boycott these events, others took the opportunity to make a statement. Team Liquid famously wore Pride flags during the Esports World Cup to show solidarity with LGBTQ+ communities.

The Kingdom’s Growing Influence

The influence of Saudi Arabia in esports didn’t stop there. In 2024, even the Esports Awards were moved to Riyadh, stirring more backlash within the community. Top streamers like xQc and Tfue also inked lucrative deals with Saudi Arabia, further solidifying the kingdom’s presence in the space.

And if there was any doubt about Saudi Arabia’s growing dominance, the Esports World Cup Club Championship removed it. Team Falcons, a Saudi team, clinched the title—along with a staggering $7 million prize pool.

In just a few short years, Saudi Arabia became the owner of the largest esports company in the world, hosts the biggest esports event globally, and now holds a 12-year partnership with the IOC to run the first six Esports Olympics. It feels like the entire industry is now under the thumb of one kingdom. All the controversy? Brushed aside—even the IOC decided to play along.

A Missed Opportunity for Esports?

My view of the Olympics has soured over the years due to its inability to evolve with the times. Still, it holds value and tradition—something I believe is important. But if the Olympic motto is “Faster, Higher, Stronger – Together”, perhaps for the Esports Olympics, it should read “Faster, Higher, Stronger – Together in Riyadh”.

The iconic rings, meant to represent unity across continents, seem a bit hollow here. Inclusivity doesn’t appear to be on the agenda. I get it—launching the Esports Olympics is a massive undertaking, and someone needs to take the reins. But was handing it over to Saudi Arabia for 12 years really the right move?

I hope that independent third-party organizers like PGL—who recently hosted a fantastic CS2 tournament in Cluj-Napoca—can still grab a piece of the pie and hold their ground amid Saudi Arabia’s growing influence.