IOC joins hands with Saudi Arabia to host Inaugral Olympic Esports Game
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The International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the National Olympic Committee of Saudi Arabia have partnered to hold the first-ever Olympic ESports Games in an effort to promote ESports worldwide.
The Federation of Esports Associations India (FEAI) Founding Member and Founder of UNIV Sportatech, Abhishek Issar, stated, “Every nation will look at ESports as an Olympic medal winning opportunity – this is a game changer for the industry.”
“Our appetite for growth in the sector corresponds with the country’s highly commanding Geo-economic status in the world, especially as India witnesses a strong performance at the Paris Olympics.”
The number of players in the ESports category increased from 150,000 to 600,000 between 2021 and 2022, and future estimates indicate that this number will reach 15,00,000 by the end of 2027.
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Through significant international competitions, such as the first-ever Esports World Cup, Saudi Arabia has welcomed more than 1,700 top players from more than 80 nations throughout the past two years.
Esports tournaments in Saudi Arabia have attracted about four million spectators to see live experiences in the Kingdom, while a further 1.3 billion people have watched them on various streaming platforms worldwide, demonstrating the country’s ability to organize major events.
Approximately 67% of Saudi citizens identify as gamers, and there are presently 100 professional esports players that are seeking full-time professions.
The collaboration between the IOC and the Saudi Arabian NOC occurs at a moment when sports in Saudi Arabia are expanding significantly on all fronts. More than 2.6 million sports fans have attended more than 100 international competitions held in the Kingdom for both male and female athletes, encompassing esports, football, motorsports, tennis, equestrian, and golf.
Participation in sports has increased thrice overall since 2015, reaching over 50% of the population. During this period, there have been 98 sports federations, a threefold increase from 32.
