IOC and SOPC Confirm First Olympic Esports Games for 2027
The rumours have been confirmed: the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has announced that the first Olympic Esports Games will take place in 2027 in Riyadh. The event will be organised in collaboration with the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee (SOPC), with the Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) on board as a founding partner.
Just a few days ago, speculation was mounting that the ambitious plan to hold the first Olympic Esports Games in 2025 would not be feasible. However, the IOC had not officially commented on the matter. GamesMarkt also reached out to the IOC for clarification but received no response. Now, the IOC has made it official: the first Olympic Esports Games will be held in 2027 in Riyadh, in cooperation with the SOPC. This collaboration comes as no surprise, given that the IOC and Saudi Arabia had already signed a multi-year framework agreement.