The International Olympic Committee (IOC) agreed with Saudi Arabia that the so-called Olympic eSports games will be held in their country for 12 years. They will be held regularly starting in 2025, when they will be held for the first time.
“We are very fortunate to be able to work with the Saudi Arabian National Olympic Committee on the Esports Olympic Games as they have extensive, if not unique, experience in esports,” the IOC President said. Thomas Bach. Saudi Arabia is investing heavily in eSports, hosting this year’s eSports World Cup. The focus on video games and sports is an attempt to reduce dependence on oil exports, but it could also help improve the country’s image abroad.
“Through our partnership with the Saudi Arabian National Olympic Committee, we have also achieved support for Olympic values, especially in terms of the games included in the program, the promotion of gender equality and the attraction of a young audience that esports is looking for,” Bach continues. At the same time, his statement is a marked contrast to the conditions in Saudi Arabia, where the de facto death penalty is applied to queer people, and the Middle Eastern state also does not recognize equality between women and men.
We don’t know the exact form of the eSports version of the Olympic Games yet. Currently, an event related to the Standard Olympic Games is being held. Olympic eSports serieswhere, of course, there are no real eSports games, but only gaming versions of some Olympic sports.
Source :Indian TV
