The IOC announced at its 142nd Session that there will be Olympic eSport Games from 2025. Saudi Arabia has been named as the venue – for the next twelve years
It was a rapprochement in small steps. Fundamental rejection became the Olympic Virtual Series, later the Olympic Esport Week – and now the introduction of Olympic eSport Games. This was announced by the International Olympic Committee. However, its President Thomas Bach showed some reluctance in his statement. It is not his world that he is leading the IOC into, “but we cannot ignore numbers”, said the 70-year-old. There is now no alternative to including eSports under the five rings “if we want to remain relevant in the lives of young people”.
The first competitions are set to take place in 2025, separate from the Summer and Winter Games. Saudi Arabia was chosen as the venue – for the next twelve years. This agreement was concluded in the run-up to the 142nd IOC Session. According to Bach, the Kingdom has “great, if not unique, expertise in the field of eSports”. The Esports World Cup with several disciplines is currently taking place in the desert state. However, despite – or perhaps because of – the high prize money, the tournament has been criticized for eSportswashing.
Disciplines not yet known
It is not yet known which disciplines will be selected for the first Olympic eSports Games. However, it should be clear that shooters will not be included. Accepted forms of eSports for the IOC are virtual sports as well as sports simulations and eSports titles that “correspond to the Olympic values”.
The last Olympic Esports Week in Singapore included archery, baseball, chess, cycling, dancing, motorsports, sailing, taekwondo and tennis. However, the selection was met with harsh criticism in the scene. After all, established eSports disciplines were left out. We are talking here about titles such as CS:GO, LoL, Dota 2, Valorant, Rocket League
