The partnership between the IOC and the Saudi NOC will span 12 years, with the Olympic Esports Games scheduled to be held regularly. “We are very fortunate to be able to work with the Saudi NOC on the Olympic Esports Games, because it has great, if not unique, expertise in the field of esports with all its stakeholders. The Olympic Esports Games will greatly benefit from this experience,” said IOC President Thomas Bach.

“By partnering with the Saudi NOC we have also ensured that the Olympic values are respected, particularly in terms of the game titles featured, the promotion of gender equality, and engaging with the young audience that is embracing esports.”

HRH Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Faisal, Minister of Sport and President of the Saudi Arabian Olympic and Paralympic Committee, expressed his enthusiasm by stating, “Saudi Arabia is hugely excited by the prospect of partnering with the IOC and helping to usher in a completely new era for international sport. 

"We believe that participating in the Olympic Games is one of the greatest honors an athlete can achieve. We are proud to contribute to the creation of a new chapter in Olympic history, one that has the potential to inspire new dreams and ambitions for millions of athletes around the world.

“We are a youthful nation, with over 23 million gamers, embracing the future with new thinking and partnerships. Supported by His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, our Kingdom has become a global hub for professional esports.

"Hosting this event is the result of a rich past, an exciting present and a promising future for the industry in the Kingdom. This is a natural next step for our young athletes, our country and the global esports community.” This partnership comes amid Saudi Arabia’s significant growth in sports driven by Vision 2030. Since 2018, the Kingdom has hosted over 100 major global sports events, including esports, football, motorsports, tennis, equestrian, and golf, attracting over 2.6 million fans.

Sports have become central to life in Saudi Arabia, with participation tripling since 2015 to nearly 50% of the population. The number of sports federations has grown from 32 to 98, and 67% of Saudis now identify as gamers.

Women’s sports are also expanding, with almost half of the 23 million gamers being female, over 330,000 registered female athletes, and nearly 40 women’s national teams. There are 70,000 schoolgirls in the football league, and reforms ensure equal pay and female representation in sports federations.

Princess Reema Bandar Al-Saud, IOC Member and President of the Women’s Committee, said, “Witnessing the growing trends of female participation in esports is very exciting. I had the honour of working towards women’s empowerment in sport and in society as a whole under Vision 2030 and HRH Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud’s leadership. I look forward to the Olympic Esports Games as an opportunity for more female participation globally in a safe and inclusive space.”

“The Women’s Committee under Princess Reema Bandar Al-Saud’s leadership was crucial in advancing women’s sport in Saudi Arabia. Their support in promoting female participation in esports is a valuable commitment, and we look forward to our cooperation," Bach added.

Following the announcement, the IOC will soon start selecting a city and venue for the first Olympic Esports Games, determining the event’s timing, game titles, and qualification processes.

The IOC have said they will prioritise International Federations and National Olympic Committees already engaged in esports for inclusion in the Games. A new structure will be created to manage the Olympic Esports Games, focusing on different financial and organisational models compared to the Olympic Games.