IOC, Saudi Arabia cancel 12-year Esports Olympics deal

The International Olympic Committee and Saudi Arabia have canceled a 12-year deal for the kingdom to host the Olympic Esports Games, the IOC announced Thursday.

The inaugural competition originally was planned for 2025 before being postponed to 2027.

"Recently, the two parties (IOC and Saudi Olympic Committee) and the Esports World Cup Foundation sat down again and reviewed this initiative," the IOC statement read.

"They mutually agreed that they will end their cooperation on the Olympic Esports Games. At the same time, both parties are committed to pursuing their own esports ambitions on separate paths."

The IOC said it will develop a new approach and "pursue a new partnership model."

"This approach will be a chance to better fit the Olympic Esports Games to the long-term ambitions of the Olympic movement," it said, adding that it plans to host "the inaugural Games as soon as possible."

In the meantime, Saudi Arabia will host the third annual Esports World Cup next summer. This 2025 competition featured 1,500 players from more than 100 countries, competing in 25 games for a total prize pool of $71.5 million.

--Field Level Media