Partnership Dissolution Marks Setback for Saudi Arabia’s Gaming Ambitions

Engadget’s coverage of the International Olympic Committee’s decision to end its partnership with Saudi Arabia highlights a significant turning point in Olympic esports development. The breakup represents a rare setback for a sports initiative backed by the oil-rich kingdom and comes just seven months into new IOC president Kristy Coventry’s tenure.

Details of the Breakup

The IOC and Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee (SOPC) announced on Thursday that they had “mutually agreed” to dissolve their 12-year esports partnership, which was established in 2024. The inaugural Olympic Esports Games, originally scheduled for 2026 in Riyadh, had already been postponed to 2027. The breakdown also triggered the mutual termination of the IOC’s partnership with the Esports World Cup Foundation.

Both parties indicated they remain committed to pursuing esports separately, with the IOC stating it plans to “spread the opportunities presented by the Olympic Esports Games more widely” and still seeks to hold the inaugural games “as soon as possible.”

Underlying Tensions

The dissolution appears rooted in philosophical differences regarding game selection and Olympic values. The IOC sought to connect with younger audiences through esports while maintaining Olympic standards, but Saudi Arabia’s Esports World Cup features shooter games, MOBAs, and fighting titles—content the IOC expressed concern about endorsing. Former IOC president Thomas Bach had previously cautioned that “Olympic values are respected, in particular, with regard to the game titles on the program.”

The timing of the breakup coincides with Saudi Arabia’s significant investment in the gaming industry, including its sovereign wealth fund’s $55 billion acquisition of EA, signaling the kingdom’s broader gaming sector expansion under its Vision 2030 modernization initiative.

The IOC now moves forward seeking alternative pathways for Olympic esports, with potential future hosts including South Korea and the United States.

Photo by planet_fox on Pixabay