One year after hosting an Olympic esports event that did not include actual esports games, the International Olympic Committee, in cooperation with the Saudi Arabian National Olympic Committee, will host the first ever Olympic esports games in 2025 with a full-scale esports event.

The Olympic Esports agreement between the IOC and Saudi Arabia will run for 12 years, with events taking place "on a regular basis" throughout the term.

"We are very fortunate to be working with the NOC of Saudi Arabia on the Olympic Esports Games. The Olympic Esports Games will benefit greatly from this experience."

"By partnering with the Saudi NOC, we have also ensured that Olympic values are respected." "Especially with regard to the program's game titles, promotion of gender equality, and engagement with young audiences who embrace esports."

Saudi Arabia recently called for an end to the country's oppressive guardianship laws and for charges such as "going shopping without wearing an abaya," and women's rights activist This is quite rich considering that Manaher al-Otaibi was sentenced to 11 years in prison.

But never mind that: the Saudi Minister of Sports and President of the Olympic Committee, Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal, said the arrangement is "a new chapter in the history of the Olympic Games, and will give literally millions of athletes around the world It has the potential to inspire new dreams and ambitions."

"As the "first" Esports Olympics in history, there is obviously still much to consider and plan with the IOC, but we will host a special event that honors and celebrates Olympic values, while providing a fitting international platform for the sport and its athletes to We are committed to boldly seizing the momentum to move esports forward," said Al Faisal.

Saudi Arabia has indeed become a major player in the esports scene, and in video games in general; in 2022, leading esports organizer ESL Gaming and tournament platform FACEIT, both acquired by the country's public The fund has also invested heavily in Electronic Arts, Embracer Group, Take-Two Interactive, Nexon, Capcom, and Nintendo.

The Olympic esports deal came as the IOC explained that "the whole sport is growing significantly in Saudi Arabia." The announcement specifically noted that there are now "more than 330,000 registered female athletes and nearly 40 women's national teams competing in international competitions," and that "rule reforms have led to female representation on the boards of all sports federations."

"It is very exciting to witness the growing trend of women's participation in esports," said IOC member Princess Reema Bandar Al-Saud." I am honored to work towards the empowerment of women in sports and society at large under the leadership of Vision 2030 and His Royal Highness Crown Prince and Prime Minister Muhammad bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and to see the enormous I have witnessed the positive impact it can have."

Bin Salman, who has been credibly accused by several intelligence agencies of ordering the murder and dismemberment of journalist and regime critic Jamal Khashoggi, said in a 2023 Fox News interview that he was trying to distract from the "horrific" human rights violations by his government by " He said he does not mind accusations that he is using "sportswashing" to deflect attention from "horrific" human rights abuses by his own government. 'If sportswashing increases GDP by even one percent, I will continue sportswashing. I don't care," he said.

Saudi Arabia's deal with the IOC, which has faced corruption allegations for years, is now complete; the IOC will also create a "new specialized entity within the organization" to run the Olympic esports games.