The International Olympic Committee just pulled off one of the most awkward relationship breakups in sports history. After announcing a supposedly ironclad 12-year deal with Saudi Arabia to host the inaugural Olympic Esports Games, they’ve called it quits after barely 14 months. It’s a rare stumble for Saudi Arabia’s all-consuming Vision 2030 project and a massive reset for the IOC’s ambitious plans to connect with younger audiences through competitive gaming.
A Deal That Looked Too Good to Be True
Back in July 2024, right before the Paris Olympics, the IOC and Saudi Arabia’s Olympic Committee announced their partnership with fanfare befitting a major international agreement. The plan was straightforward: Saudi Arabia would host the first-ever Olympic Esports Games in Riyadh, with the inaugural event originally scheduled for 2025. For Saudi Arabia, it was the crown jewel of its esports ambitions. For the IOC, it looked like the perfect vehicle to attract Gen Z audiences and stay relevant in the digital age.
Then-IOC President Thomas Bach even cautiously noted at the time that the organization had ensured Olympic values would be respected, particularly regarding game title selection. That comment, as it turns out, was a sign of things to come. The warning was there in plain sight, but everyone was too excited about the vision to notice.
The First Red Flag Appeared Almost Immediately
The cracks started showing in February 2025 when the IOC announced that the inaugural Esports Olympics was being pushed back to 2027. The official reason was that all parties needed more time to refine the hosting model and financing structure. But behind closed doors, tensions were already building between an ambitious Saudi Arabia and a cautious IOC trying to balance esports credibility with Olympic traditions.
What seemed like a minor delay was actually the beginning of the end. The two organizations found themselves pulling in different directions. Saudi Arabia wanted bigger, faster, and bolder moves in esports. The IOC wanted to move methodically, ensuring that every decision aligned with its values and long-term vision for the Olympic movement. These aren’t compatible approaches when you’re building something together.
The Mutual Breakup That Nobody Believes Is Mutual
On October 29, 2025, the IOC released a statement announcing that both parties had “mutually agreed” to end their cooperation on the Olympic Esports Games. Both the IOC and the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee would now “pursue their own esports ambitions on separate paths.” It’s the kind of diplomatic language used when a relationship ends but nobody wants to publicly admit who dumped whom.
What’s telling is what happened next. The IOC immediately announced it would “develop a new approach” and seek a “new partnership model” for the Olympic Esports Games. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia quickly pivoted to reminding everyone about the Esports World Cup, its alternative project that doesn’t require Olympic approval and boasts a staggering $70 million annual prize pool. Both parties were essentially saying: we’ve got better options anyway.
What Really Went Wrong
While nobody’s officially confirmed the exact reasons for the split, informed sources in the esports community have identified several friction points. The game title question was contentious. Saudi Arabia’s flagship esports event, the Esports World Cup, features competitive shooters like Call of Duty and Counter-Strike. The IOC, trying to appeal to younger audiences while maintaining Olympic values, wasn’t comfortable with the game selection. These are games built around killing and violence, and while esports fans think nothing of it, it sits uneasily with organizations that need to appeal to conservative national Olympic committees and international bodies.
There’s also the human rights issue that nobody mentions directly but everybody understands. Saudi Arabia has faced consistent criticism for alleged human rights abuses, and by partnering on a high-profile Olympic event, the IOC was essentially participating in what critics call “sportswashing.” The organization has faced enough scrutiny over its own governance issues without adding more fuel to that fire. The new IOC president, Kirsty Coventry, likely saw the partnership as a liability from day one of her presidency in October.
| Timeline Event | Date | What Happened |
|---|---|---|
| Deal Announcement | July 2024 | IOC and Saudi Arabia announce 12-year partnership for Olympic Esports Games |
| Original Event | 2025 | Inaugural Olympic Esports Games planned in Riyadh |
| First Postponement | February 2025 | Event pushed to 2027, citing need to refine model |
| Partnership Ends | October 29, 2025 | IOC and Saudi Arabia mutually agree to end cooperation |
| IOC Response | November 2025 | IOC announces new approach to Olympic Esports Games with different partner |
What This Means for Saudi Arabia’s Esports Dream
For Saudi Arabia, this is a legitimate setback, though not a fatal one. The country isn’t giving up on esports. It’s already hosting the Esports World Cup annually with massive prize pools, and it announced plans for an Esports Nations Cup launching in November 2026. Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, the Public Investment Fund (PIF), is still pouring billions into gaming companies including Electronic Arts (through a $55 billion deal to take it private), Nintendo, and Take-Two.
The kingdom also owns ESL through its Savvy Games Group and recently acquired EVO, the legendary fighting game tournament. Saudi Arabia’s esports footprint is actually bigger and more entrenched than ever. The Olympic partnership would have been a prestige bonus, but it’s not essential to their strategy. They’re building their own empire independent of Olympic approval.
What’s Next for Olympic Esports Games
The IOC says it’s pursuing a “new partnership model” and will try to launch the inaugural Olympic Esports Games “as soon as possible.” But that’s vague strategizing wrapped in Olympic speak. The truth is they’re back to square one. They’ve learned that a single partner, especially one as aggressive as Saudi Arabia’s PIF, creates complications. They need either multiple partners or a more flexible hosting model.
The IOC might consider a model where the Olympic Esports Games rotate between countries and are integrated differently into each Olympic cycle. They might also look for partners with less baggage and more alignment with Olympic values. What they definitely won’t do is announce another major partnership this quickly. They’ve been burned once and twice shy is the motto now.
FAQs
Why did the IOC and Saudi Arabia end their esports partnership?
While both parties called it a “mutual” decision, the split appears to stem from conflicting visions for the Olympic Esports Games. The IOC was concerned about game title selection (particularly violent shooter titles), human rights considerations, and maintaining alignment with Olympic values. Saudi Arabia wanted to move faster and bigger than the IOC was comfortable with. The relationship became untenable after just 14 months.
When was the Olympic Esports Games supposed to happen?
The inaugural event was originally planned for 2025 in Riyadh but was postponed to 2027 in February 2025. With the partnership now dissolved, there’s no scheduled date for the first Olympic Esports Games. The IOC says it aims to launch “as soon as possible” under a new partnership model, but that could still be years away.
Is Saudi Arabia giving up on esports?
Not at all. Saudi Arabia continues investing heavily in esports through its sovereign wealth fund and hosts major tournaments like the Esports World Cup and the upcoming Esports Nations Cup. The country has significant stakes in major gaming publishers and owns important esports organizations. Losing the Olympic partnership is a setback, but not a strategy shift.
What games were supposed to be in the Olympic Esports Games?
The IOC never officially confirmed the game lineup, which was part of the tension. Saudi Arabia’s Esports World Cup features competitive shooters like Call of Duty and Counter-Strike, but the IOC had concerns about including violent-themed games in an Olympic context, particularly given scrutiny over Olympic values and brand alignment.
Will the Olympic Esports Games still happen?
Yes, the IOC remains committed to developing an Olympic Esports Games, but on its own terms with a new partnership model. The organization is conducting a “Pause and Reflect” review to better align esports with Olympic Movement ambitions. They’re likely looking for different partners or a more distributed hosting model rather than a single-country arrangement.
Why is the IOC interested in esports anyway?
The IOC’s core audience is aging, and traditional Olympic viewership among younger demographics is declining. Esports is one of the fastest-growing entertainment sectors globally, particularly among Gen Z and millennial audiences. The IOC sees esports as essential to staying relevant and connecting with younger generations who might never watch traditional Olympics otherwise.
Was this a failure for Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030?
It’s a setback, not a failure. Vision 2030 is Saudi Arabia’s massive economic diversification program aimed at reducing oil dependency. While the Olympic partnership would have added prestige, Saudi Arabia has successfully built substantial esports infrastructure and attracts major international tournaments through direct investment rather than Olympic affiliation. They’re pursuing their goals with or without Olympic approval.
Conclusion
The Olympic Esports Games partnership between the IOC and Saudi Arabia was supposed to be the next big thing in competitive gaming. Instead, it became a case study in how prestigious institutions and aggressive investors can have fundamentally incompatible visions. The IOC wanted credibility and cultural fit. Saudi Arabia wanted dominance and speed. Neither side was wrong, but they weren’t right for each other either.
For esports fans, this is actually good news. Saudi Arabia’s independent esports projects are massive and unconstrained by Olympic bureaucracy. The IOC will eventually launch Olympic Esports Games with partners better aligned to its values, probably reaching a broader international audience in the process. And the esports community gets to keep building its own culture without being shoehorned into the Olympic machine. Sometimes the best partnerships are the ones that never happen.