The real reason why the Olympic Esports Games has been postponed until 2027

Following reports about delays for the inaugural Olympic Esports Games, the IOC has confirmed the event will now take place in 2027. But significant hurdles still remain before the event happens

Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is known as a “massive gamer” so it is no surprise that the kingdom is investing massively in esports with the aim of making it the world capital of global gaming by 2030.

By then, the country's National Gaming and Esports Strategy, driven largely by Public Investment Fund projects, aims to have created 39,000 jobs and added $13.3 billion to its gross domestic product. It has been claimed that up to 67 per cent of its population is engaged in gaming, including 42 per cent of women and 45 per cent of people in the 21 to 35 age bracket.

It is, therefore, no surprise that the Crown Prince, also known as MBS, made it a priority to ensure Saudi Arabia won the right to host the first Olympic Esports Games. The deal to host the first edition in 2025 was sealed at the IOC Session in Paris last July with the added bonus that Saudi Arabia would stage the event for 12 years.

IOC President Thomas Bach flew In on a private jet on Sunday to Riyadh to hold talks with MBS about the event. It had been widely expected that the event would be delayed but most people were surprised by the announcement that it had been pushed back as far as 2027.

Thomas Bach discusses the best strategy for Call of Duty with Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince ©IOC