IOC ends Saudi partnership, resets plans for Olympic Esports Games

As a result, the IOC and the Esports World Cup Foundation have also agreed to end their collaboration on the inaugural Olympic Esports Games, originally planned for 2027.

In a statement, the IOC said it had been in discussions with the SOPC over the past year about the future of the project. It added that ending the 12-year agreement with the Saudi committee would allow it to shape the Olympic Esports Games in a way that better aligns with the long-term ambitions of the Olympic Movement.

The IOC also noted that both it and the Esports World Cup Foundation will now "pursue their own esports ambitions on separate paths."

With neither the SOPC nor the Foundation involved, the IOC plans to craft "a new approach" for the Games and establish a fresh partnership model with potential collaborators.

Since announcing the Olympic Esports Games concept in October 2023, the IOC has continued to refine the idea, including hosting a Publisher and Developer Forum in June to help build its framework.

Despite the partnership's collapse, the IOC maintains its commitment to staging the event, though the timeline is now uncertain. The organisation says it aims to deliver the first edition "as soon as possible."

The IOC added: "We will develop a new approach to the Olympic Esports Games, taking the feedback from the ‘Pause and Reflect' process into account, and pursue a new partnership model."