What we know about the Olympic Esports Games so far

The inaugural edition of the Olympic Esports Games continues to generate conversation among industry stakeholders and fans alike. After proposing the idea during the Paris Olympic Games, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) is looking to be the next traditional sporting body to cash in on esports.

Initially planned to take place in 2025, a delay has resulted in the event being pushed back. With a new date now locked in, interest in the Olympics’ second attempt at hosting an esports competition is gaining traction once more.

The IOC has confirmed that the Olympic Esports Games will take place in 2027 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

In addition to The Kingdom playing host to the event, the committee has also partnered with the Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF), the organisers of the Esports World Cup, which also takes place in Saudi Arabia.

The exact dates of the event haven’t been confirmed.

The games being played at the Olympic Esports Games haven’t been revealed, but stakeholders involved in the event are working on collaborations.

In October 2024, the Federation Internationale de L’Automobile (FIA), world motorsport’s governing body, revealed plans to identify game developers for a partnership relating to the tournament.

While no partnership between the FIA and a developer has formed, the intention confirms that sim racing will play a part as one of the disciplines forming the list of games being played.

Details on other games expected to feature have yet to be named.

There has been some concern over the types of games that would represent esports at the Olympic Esports Games. During the Olympic Esports Series in 2023, the titles included archery, cycling, dancing and tennis. Without popular titles and top esports pros at the event, the esports community wondering how these sports simulators represented the best-of-the-best of esports at the Olympics.

Thanks to the IOC’s partnership with the EWCF, the two parties will collaborate with the goal of establishing pathways for gamers around the world to qualify for the Olympic Esports Games.

The EWCF will work with the committee to create qualification pathways alongside aligning national esports ecosystems, ensuring players from around the world get an opportunity to participate.