The Olympic Esports Games will not be hosted in Saudi Arabia

The first ever Olympic Esports Games, initially scheduled for Saudi Arabia in 2027, will no longer occur as planned.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC), Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee (SOPC), and the Esports World Cup Foundation have "mutually agreed" to discontinue their partnership after conducting an internal review.

According to a statement from the IOC, each party will now "pursue their own esports ambitions independently." The IOC intends to "develop a new strategy" and seek "a revised partnership model" for future esports initiatives.

This strategy is aimed at aligning the Olympic Esports Games with the broader goals of the Olympic Movement. The IOC plans to distribute opportunities through the Olympic Esports Games more broadly, with the aim to hold the first event as soon as feasible.

A separate message from the Esports World Cup indicates they have "ended their cooperation on this initiative" after what they describe as "a productive review" of the program.

"We appreciate the open and constructive collaboration with the IOC and SOPC over this past year," the organization expressed in a LinkedIn post.

"Esports remains a source of inspiration for countless fans and players globally, and we acknowledge a common goal to elevate digital competition on an international level."

The plan for Olympic Esports Games was first announced by the IOC in 2023, with the goal of holding the inaugural event in Saudi Arabia by 2025. However, this was postponed to 2027 due to "persistent concerns over the event format and insufficient clarity on key program elements from game publishers," reported Esports Insider.