IOC Ends Saudi Partnership for Olympic Esports Games, Plans Fresh Approach to Event

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has officially ended its partnership with Saudi Arabia to host the Olympic Esports Games in Riyadh, marking a major shift in the organisation’s digital sports strategy.

Saudi Arabia had secured hosting rights as part of a 12-year agreement between the IOC and the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee (SOPC), signed in July 2024. The inaugural edition of the Olympic Esports Games was initially scheduled for 2025 before being delayed until 2027 due to concerns over timelines and organisational readiness.

At the time, the IOC had set itself the ambitious task of developing an independent financial and operational framework for the Games, separate from the traditional Olympics. To support this, the Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF), a non-profit responsible for Saudi Arabia’s Esports World Cup was appointed as a founding partner to help deliver the event.

Despite the delay, then IOC President Thomas Bach had appeared confident about the partnership’s future, describing a “very clear roadmap to the historic first-ever Olympic Esports Games.”

However, following Bach’s departure in March, his successor Kirsty Coventry chose a different direction. The IOC confirmed that both parties had “mutually agreed that they will end their cooperation on the Olympic Esports Games,” adding that they “are committed to pursuing their own esports ambitions on separate paths.”

The decision comes just weeks after a consortium led by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), alongside Silver Lake and Affinity Partners, finalised a US$55 billion takeover of gaming giant Electronic Arts (EA).

While few global sports bodies have distanced themselves from Saudi investment, the IOC’s move underscores its determination to safeguard the integrity of the Olympic brand. Bach had previously maintained that the partnership would ensure “Olympic values are respected,” though critics argued this was at odds with concerns over Saudi Arabia’s human rights record and accusations of sportswashing. There had also been unease about working with the EWCF, which organises tournaments featuring shooter games.

Game publishers were reportedly frustrated with the slow progress of the Olympic Esports Games and the lack of clarity around which titles would be featured - a factor that may have compounded internal pressure on the IOC to reconsider its approach.

In a statement, the IOC said it now intends to “develop a new approach” to the esports event and “pursue a new partnership model.” While the organisation reaffirmed its commitment to staging the Games “as soon as possible,” there is currently no confirmation on whether the 2027 timeline remains or which city might host.

For Saudi Arabia, the dissolution of the partnership is a symbolic setback, particularly as it sought to strengthen its relationship with the IOC and bolster its long-term ambitions to host the Olympic Games. Nevertheless, its broader investment in global sport, and esports in particular, shows no signs of slowing.

For Coventry, the decision signals a clear departure from her predecessor’s strategy and a readiness to make bold choices as she charts a new era for the Olympic movement’s engagement with digital and gaming audiences.