{"id":283669,"date":"2025-10-30T20:55:10","date_gmt":"2025-10-30T20:55:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/community.skin.club\/?p=283669"},"modified":"2025-10-30T21:28:36","modified_gmt":"2025-10-30T21:28:36","slug":"ioc-ends-deal-with-saudi-arabia-over-olympic-esports-games","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/community.skin.club\/en\/news\/ioc-ends-deal-with-saudi-arabia-over-olympic-esports-games","title":{"rendered":"IOC terminates partnership with Saudi Arabia: Why the Olympic Esports Games were halted"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Olympic Esports Games initiative, once prepared for a large-scale debut, has been officially suspended \u2014 both sides have agreed to part ways. Yet behind the diplomatic language lies a deeper conflict of interests that could define the future of the Olympic movement\u2019s esports ambitions for years to come.<\/p>\n

Exposition: High expectations and the first fracture<\/strong><\/h2>\n

When the International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced its partnership with the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee (SOPC) in 2024, the Olympic Esports Games project seemed like a historic milestone. The plan envisioned a 12-year collaboration combining traditional Olympic values with new forms of digital sport. Saudi Arabia was to become the central hub for developing the initiative, investing billions into its own esports ecosystem and media infrastructure.<\/p>\n

However, just a year later, the alliance that once appeared strategic has officially collapsed. The IOC and the Saudi government announced a \u201cmutual agreement to discontinue cooperation\u201d on the Olympic Esports Games.<\/p>\n\n

\n

read more<\/p>\n

\n
\n \n
<\/div>\n \n \"Prediction\n <\/picture>\n <\/a>\n
\n
\n Prediction for Liquid vs SAW \u2014 PGL Masters Bucharest 2025<\/a>\n \n
\n \n <\/use>\n <\/svg>\n <\/div>\n
\n \n <\/use>\n <\/svg>\n <\/div>\n
\n \n <\/use>\n <\/svg>\n <\/div>\n <\/a><\/div>\n
\n
Oct 30 2025<\/div>\n News<\/a> <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n

What happened<\/strong><\/h2>\n

In its official statement, the IOC emphasized that both parties \u201cretain their own esports plans but will pursue them separately.\u201d The wording sounds soft, but in reality, it marks a complete shutdown of preparations for the first edition of the Games, which were expected to take place before 2027.<\/p>\n

At the same time, according to internal sources, the decision had been forming since August, when the Esports World Cup Foundation \u2014 a Saudi-backed organization \u2014 announced the creation of the Esports Nations Cup. The new nation-vs-nation tournament was presented as a global alternative to the Olympic Esports Games, but without any direct affiliation with the Olympic structure.<\/p>\n

How it came to this<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Tensions in the partnership had been building gradually. In early 2025, the IOC announced that the launch of the Olympic Esports Games would be postponed by at least two years \u2014 to 2027. The official reason cited was the need for \u201cdeeper planning.\u201d In reality, according to sources in European esports circles, disagreements extended to fundamental governance issues: who controls the organizational process, who selects the disciplines, and whether international esports federations would be involved.<\/p>\n

The key stumbling block became the issue of federation control. The IOC insisted on cooperation with international bodies such as the International Esports Federation (IESF) or the Global Esports Federation (GEF) to preserve Olympic transparency standards. The Saudi side opposed this, as neither organization holds intellectual property rights for game content and both have controversial financial reputations.<\/p>\n

Under the original plan, Saudi Arabia intended to establish its own federation that would oversee the format and regulations of future Games. This model had been approved under the IOC\u2019s previous leadership, but following a change in presidency, the committee\u2019s position shifted dramatically.<\/p>\n

\n

Game Over: The International Olympic Committee (@iocmedia<\/a>) and the Saudi Arabian government have mutually agreed to kill the 12-year contract for the Esports Olympic Games. We dive into why this happened, with the help of multiple sources.<\/p>\n

\u270d\ud83c\udffc @jfudge<\/a> https:\/\/t.co\/yh5W2AMaZK<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/skUbVWcwVW<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 The Esports Advocate (@TEAdvocated) October 30, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n