IOC and Saudi Arabia end cooperation on Olympic Esports Games

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) and its partners in Saudi Arabia have terminated their collaboration on the Olympic Esports Games. This decision marks a significant shift in strategy for the IOC, which will now develop a new approach for the event, aiming to hold the inaugural Games as soon as possible.

The split follows a year of discussions and a recent review of the initiative, with both parties opting to pursue their separate esports ambitions.

The initiative was originally planned to be hosted in Saudi Arabia under a 12-year partnership revealed in July 2024. However, in a statement released on 30 October 2025, the IOC confirmed the end of the cooperation with the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee (SOPC) and the Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF). The IOC stated it will now create a “new partnership model” for the Olympic Esports Games, incorporating feedback from its internal review processes to better align with the long-term ambitions of the Olympic Movement.

In a corresponding statement posted on LinkedIn, the Esports World Cup Foundation acknowledged the mutual decision. “Following a constructive review of the Olympic Esports Games initiative, we have mutually agreed with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee (SOPC) to conclude our cooperation on this project,” the Foundation stated. The EWCF confirmed it would now focus on its own flagship events, including the Esports World Cup and the newly announced Esports Nations Cup.

The dissolution of the partnership occurs in a context where the EWCF has begun launching its own national-team-focused competitions. In August 2025, the Foundation announced the Esports Nations Cup, a biennial global tournament developed with major game publishers and scheduled to debut in Riyadh in November 2026. This new event, which will feature a rotating host model, appears to cover similar ground to the proposed Olympic Esports Games, potentially creating a concurring calendar for international esports events representing nations.

Also read: EWCF launches Esports Nations Cup with publisher backing and rotating global model

This development leaves the future format and host for the inaugural Olympic Esports Games open. The IOC has emphasised its commitment to the concept, citing “overwhelming feedback” and “considerable support” from the Olympic Movement and the esports community, but will now need to find a new path forward without its original Saudi partners.