The IOC has announced the first Esports Olympics, set to take place in Saudi Arabia in 2027

Esports has been rapidly evolving for over a century, gaining more fans and recognition worldwide. We love it for its dynamism, unpredictability, competitive spirit, and excitement—qualities shared with traditional sports. As a result, more countries officially recognize esports as a separate sport each year. In 2025, another significant step was taken in this direction: the announcement of the first-ever Esports Olympics, which we will discuss in this article.

The International Olympic Committee Announces the First Esports Olympics

As mentioned earlier, esports has made great strides in gaining official recognition, with multiple countries acknowledging it as an official sport. However, efforts did not stop there. Rumors began circulating about the first Esports Olympic Games, initially planned for 2025. However, the event was postponed due to uncertainty regarding the organizational model of the new competition.

At the beginning of 2025, esports fans were thrilled by a groundbreaking announcement: the International Olympic Committee (IOC) officially confirmed the first-ever Esports Olympics. The event is set to take place in Saudi Arabia in 2027, with Japan previously considered as a potential host nation.

The IOC has also established a commission consisting of three members from the Saudi Arabian Olympic and Paralympic Committee. Their role is to determine the esports disciplines that will be included in the debut Games. According to preliminary reports, popular titles like Dota 2 and CS2 are expected to be featured alongside other esports disciplines.

It is worth recalling that in 2023, Singapore hosted the first Olympic Esports Week under the IOC’s patronage, marking the beginning of the Olympic esports movement. During that event, competitions were held in ten virtual sports, including cycling, chess, and tennis. The organizers selected appropriate sports simulators for the Olympic esports competitions, such as Zwift for cycling tournaments and Gran Turismo for motorsport events.