International Olympic Committee and the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee end partnership for Olympic Esports games

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee (SOPC) sat down with the Esports World Cup Foundation to officially end their partnership between the two parties. According to the official press release, the conclusion of the partnership was mutual on both sides, creating an opportunity to “better fit the Olympic Esports Games to the long-term ambitions of the Olympic Movement.” 

The end of the partnership has spread the opportunities presented by the Olympic Esports Games, aiming to hold the inaugural games as soon as possible. The official announcement was made on Oct. 30, via the official IOC website. Despite the dissolution of the partnership, both parties, the IOC and the SOPC, remain dedicated to pursuing their own esports ventures. 

In 2024, the partnership was initially announced. As for the publicized goal of the partnership, at the time it was marketed to leverage Saudi Arabia’s expertise and commitment to esports to launch the new Olympic Esports Games while aligning with Olympic values.

This decision to end the partnership was influenced by overwhelming feedback from Olympic Movement stakeholders and the esports community, which showed “great desire and considerable support for the initiative.” Outside of the official statement of wanting to hold the inauguration games as soon as possible, the other reasons for the stakeholders and esports community providing “overwhelming feedback” for the dissolution of the partnership were not published.