The International Olympic Committee (IOC) and Saudi Arabia have officially terminated their 12-year agreement to hold the proposed Olympic Esports Games in Riyadh. The agreement, announced just 14 months ago, will now end early as both parties pivot to pursue separate esports agendas.
The IOC said it and the Saudi Olympic Committee, along with the Esports World Cup Foundation, reviewed their partnership and decided it was best to go their own ways.
While Saudi Arabia will continue with its own esports strategy, the IOC plans to develop a new model for its Esports Games initiative.
This abrupt split marks a major change in the esports landscape, sidelining the much-publicised deal that had tied Riyadh to the Olympic Esports brand for over a decade.
With the inaugural Games expected sometime in the future, the IOC must now reframe its roadmap for esports while Saudi Arabia doubles down on becoming a global gaming hub.
