Riyadh: The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has announced that Riyadh will host the first-ever Electronic Games Olympiad, marking a significant milestone in the world of e-sports. This decision follows a 12-year agreement signed with Saudi Arabia in 2023. The IOC had been considering a global e-sports tournament for years, and this event is a major step toward integrating electronic gaming into the Olympic movement.
To explore the potential of e-sports, which has become a dominant pastime among younger generations, a special committee was established. As part of these efforts, the Virtual Olympic Games series was introduced in 2021. The agreement signed last year with Saudi Arabia paved the way for this historic event.
However, the IOC has emphasized that this initiative is still in its pilot phase. IOC President Thomas Bach stated that a clear roadmap has been set for this groundbreaking e-Olympics, marking the official entry of e-sports into the Olympic ecosystem. Additionally, a six-member committee has been formed to select the games that will be included in the first edition of the Electronic Games Olympiad.
