The esports partnership between the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and Saudi Arabia isn’t any extra. On Thursday, the IOC mentioned that it and the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee (SOPC) have “mutually agreed” to half methods. The breakup comes weeks after Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund and different traders purchased EA for $55 billion.
The IOC and SOPC agreed on a 12-year esports partnership in 2024. At the time, the IOC was reportedly in talks with publishers of Rocket League, Street Fighter and League of Legends. The two sides mentioned holding the Olympic Esports Games each two years. (The first video games have been initially scheduled for this 12 months, however have been pushed again to 2027.) Potential hosts for later installments have been mentioned to incorporate South Korea and the US.
Instead, the 2 sides at the moment are “dedicated to pursuing their very own esports ambitions on separate paths,” in line with the IOC. The group now plans to “unfold the alternatives introduced by the Olympic Esports Games extra broadly.” It nonetheless needs the inaugural video games to occur “as quickly as doable.”
The AP notes that the dissolution comes seven months into Kristy Coventry’s IOC presidency. We do not know the main points of how the deal got here aside. However, the IOC needs to attach with youthful followers via esports, however in a manner that “Olympic values are revered.” Saudi Arabia’s Esports World Cup options MOBAs, shooters and preventing video games.
If the IOC needs to challenge a squeaky-clean picture whereas connecting with younger players, it might have an uphill battle. (For the document, video games do not result in violence.)
