The Olympic Esports Games was introduced in 2024 as a collaboration between the International Olympic Committee and the National Olympic Committee of Saudi Arabia, with occasions held “repeatedly” over a 12-year span starting in 2025. But it now seems to be like that timeline might have been overly optimistic, as a SportBusiness report says the occasion has been delayed, presumably to 2027.
There are a number of causes for the delay: SportBusiness mentioned on X that “organizers require extra time to determine a brand new internet hosting and financing mannequin,” and that recreation publishers are additionally involved concerning the “tight timeline.”
Thus far, no video games, dates, venues, or qualifying processes have been introduced: The Olympic Esports Games net web page nonetheless says that “work will now begin on deciding on town and venue for the inaugural Olympic Esports Games, figuring out the occasion’s timing, the sport titles to be included, and the qualification course of for gamers.”
In an announcement supplied to PC Gamer, the International Olympic Committee declined to touch upon the reported delay, saying solely that “the group of the primary version of the Olympic Games in esports is underway.”
“As introduced from the start, there was a have to create a brand new Olympic Games esports internet hosting mannequin, which is completely different from the Olympic Games internet hosting mannequin,” an IOC spokesperson mentioned. “A joint committee comprising the IOC and the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee was arrange and met. The end result was nice unity.
“Organizing the Olympic Games of esports is simply as vital as creating a roadmap to the occasion, which might want to elevate consciousness of the Games, promote them and interact contributors. Discussions inside the Joint Committee are nonetheless ongoing, with the goal of constructing the primary Olympic Games of esports a landmark occasion each for the world of esports and inside the Olympic Movement.”
So it is not official at this level, and the Olympic Esports Games net web page nonetheless says 2025 is the go yr, however on the very least it would not sound as if work is transferring forward at a very swift clip. It’s nonetheless early within the yr however with seemingly nothing nailed down at this level, I will not be in any respect shocked if the delay is ultimately confirmed. We’ll let you realize if and when it occurs.
