Following its half-hearted, extensively derided stab at an esports occasion in 2023, the Worldwide Olympic Committee has introduced the inaugural Olympic Esports Video games in partnership with the Saudi Arabian Olympic & Paralympic Committee, to be held in Saudi Arabia subsequent yr.
Tethering its future esports success to a regime that is been extensively criticised for its poor human rights report – which incorporates the criminalisation of homosexuality, fewer rights for ladies, and the usage of the loss of life penalty – is definitely a daring opening transfer for the IOC, however not sudden given the Saudi authorities’s heavy monetary funding in esports over the previous few years.
Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth Public Funding Fund is, as an example, financing this yr’s Esports World Cup, and its involvement has continued to trigger controversy. Apex Legends followers expressed disappointment when the sport was confirmed to be a part of the Esports World Cup earlier this yr, as an example, with many noting the battle royale recreation’s inclusive outlook was deeply at odds with the Saudi authorities’s anti-LGBTQ+ stance.
The UK’s nationwide physique for aggressive video gaming, British eSports, was additionally compelled to launch a press release defending its actions final yr after asserting a partnership with the Saudi eSports Federation, insisting inclusivity was “elementary” to the expansion of esports.
All of which is to say that subsequent yr’s inaugural Esports Olympic Video games will undoubtedly include its personal fair proportion of controversy, however that hasn’t cease the IOC’s efforts, as unconvincing as they is likely to be, to color its new initiative in a optimistic mild. “By partnering with the Saudi [National Olympic Committee],” it mentioned, “we now have additionally ensured that the Olympic values are revered, specifically, with regard to the sport titles on the programme, the promotion of gender equality and engagement with the younger viewers, which is embracing esports.”
“As a ‘first’ ever Esports Olympic Video games, clearly there’s nonetheless a lot to think about and plan with the IOC,” Saudi Arabia’s minister of sport and Olympic committee president Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Faisal added, “however we’re dedicated to internet hosting a particular occasion that respects and celebrates the Olympic values whereas boldly seizing the momentum to drive esports ahead with the worldwide platform the game and its athletes deserve.”
The deal between the IOC and Saudi Arabia’s Olympic & Paralympic Committee is about to run for 12 years, and the plan is to carry Esports Olympic Video games “recurrently” in that point. It is definitely a radical change of coronary heart for the IOC, given the organisation was insisting esport “killer video games” have been “contradictory to the Olympic values” simply six years in the past.
There isn’t any phrase on when subsequent yr’s Esports Olympic Video games is likely to be held, nevertheless it’s a protected guess we’ll be listening to loads extra about them earlier than issues get underway.
