In a landmark move to elevate the global status of eSports, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has announced a strategic partnership with the National Olympic Committee (NOC) of Saudi Arabia to host the inaugural Olympic ESports Games.
This collaboration reflects the growing recognition of eSports as a legitimate competitive field and represents a significant step forward in integrating it into the global Olympic framework.
The announcement has sparked widespread enthusiasm in the eSports community, with industry experts highlighting the potential impact on the sector.
Abhishek Issar, Founder of UNIV Sportatech and a Founding Member of the Federation of ESports Associations India (FEAI), expressed his excitement about the development.
“Today, every country will look at ESports as an Olympic medal-winning opportunity – this is a game-changer for the industry,” he said.
He emphasized the growth potential for India, stating, “As India witnesses a strong performance at the Paris Olympics, our appetite for growth in the sector corresponds with the country’s highly commanding geo-economic status in the world.”
Saudi Arabia’s eSports sector has grown rapidly in recent years, positioning the Kingdom as a global hub for competitive gaming. Between 2021 and 2022, the number of players in the Saudi eSports category quadrupled from 150,000 to 600,000.
Projections suggest this number could surge to 1.5 million by the end of 2027, underscoring the exponential growth of the industry.
Saudi Arabia’s growing influence in eSports is evident through its successful hosting of major international tournaments, including the inaugural Esports World Cup.
These events have brought over 1,700 elite players from more than 80 countries to compete in the Kingdom, solidifying its reputation as a premier destination for competitive gaming.
In addition to drawing in top-tier talent, Saudi eSports events have attracted nearly four million fans for live experiences, with an additional 1.3 billion views on various streaming platforms globally.
The popularity of gaming in Saudi Arabia is not limited to elite competitions. Approximately 67% of the Saudi population considers themselves to be gamers, with an increasing number of individuals pursuing professional careers in eSports.
Currently, around 100 professional eSports players in the Kingdom have committed to full-time careers in the industry, reflecting the opportunities available in this rapidly expanding field.
This partnership between the IOC and the NOC of Saudi Arabia comes at a time of significant growth in the Kingdom’s sports sector overall.
In recent years, Saudi Arabia has hosted over 100 international events for both male and female athletes across a variety of sports, including eSports, football, motorsports, tennis, equestrian events, and golf.
These events have attracted more than 2.6 million sports fans to the Kingdom, further enhancing Saudi Arabia’s reputation as a global sports hub.
The inaugural Olympic ESports Games mark a significant milestone in the evolution of eSports as a mainstream competitive discipline.
As this partnership takes shape, the global eSports community is poised to witness a new era of recognition and growth on the world stage, with Saudi Arabia at the forefront of this exciting movement.