IOC Announces Olympic Esports Games To Be Hosted in Saudi Arabia in 2025

The International Olympics Committee only recently established the Olympic Esports Games, and it will vote on its establishment on the eve of the Paris Olympics 2024. Additionally, it has proposed that the Olympic Esports Games be held in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The partnership between the IOC and the Saudi NOC will last 12 years, and the Olympic Esports Games will be hosted regularly. "By partnering with the Saudi NOC, we have also ensured that the Olympic values are respected, in particular, with regard to the game titles on the program, the promotion of gender equality, and engagement with the young audience, which is embracing exports," says IOC President Thomas Bach.

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This partnership is good news for Saudi Arabia, which has been working steadily to change its socioeconomic status under Vision 2030. Since 2018, they have been responsible for hosting some of the most significant sporting events for both male and female athletes, as well as multiple esports events.

Now that the decision has been made to host the Olympic Esports Games in Saudi Arabia, the country will begin the process of choosing a city and a venue for the event. It must also consider what game titles to include and a specific date and time for the inaugural event.

In previous events, there has been an uproar about hosting them in Saudi Arabia due to their restrictive LGBTQ+ laws, as it is illegal to be homosexual in Saudi Arabia, and any public displays of affection can lead to lashings or the death penalty. Large organizations have previously been unable to secure the safety of LGBTQ+ players in Saudi Arabia, and it comes as a questionable choice to host the Olympic Esports Games in Saudi Arabia.

For example, if they choose to add Apex Legends to the program, it will be hugely controversial and contradictory, as the game is full of LGBTQ+ characters and plenty of pride. Additionally, there are many talented eSports