South Korea has taken a formal step towards the Olympic Esports Games, with the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee launching a dedicated working group to prepare for the International Olympic Committee’s upcoming esports competition.

The initiative signals full-scale preparations by national sporting and government bodies, as questions around hosting, governance, and national team structures remain unresolved ahead of the event’s debut.

Korean Sport & Olympic Committee Begins OEG Preparations

The Korean Sport & Olympic Committee confirmed it has established a multi-stakeholder working group focused on the Olympic Esports Games, a new global event being developed by the International Olympic Committee.

According to a press release, the group will examine the feasibility of hosting the Olympic Esports Games in South Korea, while also exploring frameworks for developing and managing national representative teams. The committee described the move as the start of full-scale preparations in response to the IOC’s esports initiative.

Broad Representation Across Government, Sport And Industry

The working group brings together representatives from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, national sports organisations, academic institutions, and experts from the esports and gaming industries. KSOC said this structure is necessary due to the fundamental differences between esports and traditional Olympic sports.

Key issues identified include game intellectual property rights, privately operated league ecosystems, industrial policy considerations, military service obligations, and athlete status. KSOC noted these challenges cannot be addressed by sports bodies acting alone, requiring coordinated input from government and industry.

Scope Of The Working Group’s Mandate

KSOC outlined several core responsibilities for the group, including analysis of IOC esports-related policies, review of national team selection and management systems, and the development of cooperation models linking government, sport, and industry stakeholders.

The committee added that the group’s membership could be expanded in future, depending on external developments such as the IOC’s confirmation of the Olympic Esports Games title lineup and competition structure.

Regional And Political Context Behind The Move

The announcement comes amid growing activity around Olympic-aligned esports in Asia. Earlier this month, the Olympic Council of Asia signed a 10-year strategic partnership with Tencent Esports, highlighting the region’s increasing influence in esports governance.

It also follows renewed discussion around potential host nations, after the IOC withdrew from a proposed long-term esports partnership in Saudi Arabia. South Korean lawmakers have since publicly encouraged efforts to position the country as a potential host for the Olympic Esports Games.

South Korea’s Esports Hosting Credentials

South Korea is widely regarded as a global esports hub, having hosted major international events across multiple competitive titles. High-profile tournaments, including top-tier League of Legends competitions and the PUBG Nations Cup, have been staged in Seoul, reinforcing the country’s reputation for large-scale esports production and infrastructure.

What Are The Olympic Esports Games?

The Olympic Esports Games were approved during the 142nd IOC Session in July 2024, following the reception of the Olympic Esports Week held in Singapore in 2023. The event is designed as a multi-title international competition connecting the Olympic movement with competitive gaming.

The inaugural Olympic Esports Games were initially scheduled for 2025 but have since been postponed to 2027. The IOC has named the Esports World Cup Foundation as a founding partner to help build the event. While multiple competitive games are expected to feature, the final list of titles has yet to be confirmed.

Long-Term Implications For Korean Esports Policy

KSOC President Ryu Seung-min said the working group aims to strengthen links between traditional sport and esports, while enabling Korea’s gaming industry to align more closely with international sports structures. He added that the initiative could support new forms of international sports cooperation that resonate more strongly with younger generations.

As the IOC continues to shape the Olympic Esports Games, South Korea’s early organisational move positions it to influence both hosting discussions and the broader policy framework surrounding esports at the Olympic level.

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A Sudden End to a Grand Partnership

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee (SOPC) have officially cancelled their 12-year deal to host the Olympic Esports Games in Riyadh.

The move marks a surprising and rare setback for Saudi Arabia’s ambitious Vision 2030 programme, which has poured billions into sports, gaming, and entertainment under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s leadership.

Originally announced in 2024 and set to run until 2036, the partnership was meant to put Saudi Arabia at the centre of global esports through a long-term collaboration with the IOC and the Esports World Cup Foundation. But after months of discussions, both sides have decided to part ways, citing a mutual decision to “pursue their own esports ambitions on separate paths.”

IOC’s “Pause and Reflect”

In an official statement, the IOC explained that it will now “develop a new approach to the Olympic Esports Games,” incorporating insights from its recent “Pause and Reflect” process.

The committee said this rethink aims to align the Games more closely with the long-term goals of the Olympic Movement and “spread the opportunities presented by the Olympic Esports Games more widely.”

The IOC also emphasised that there is still strong support from both the esports community and Olympic stakeholders to make the project happen, just under a different framework.

This suggests that while the Saudi partnership has ended, the Olympic Esports Games themselves are far from dead. The IOC remains committed to launching the inaugural edition “as soon as possible,” though no new date or host nation has been confirmed.

A Blow to Saudi Arabia’s Esports Ambitions

For Saudi Arabia, the cancellation comes as an unexpected blow. The kingdom has been working aggressively to position itself as a global hub for gaming and esports through the Esports World Cup Foundation and its Vision 2030 initiative.

Riyadh has hosted record-breaking tournaments, attracted top-tier teams and developers, and recently announced the Esports Nations Cup, debuting in 2026 and set to run every two years. The loss of the Olympic Esports Games deal, however, dents what was arguably the country’s biggest international esports coup to date.

The Associated Press described the cancellation as a “rare failure” for Saudi-backed sports projects, most of which have gone ahead despite criticism and political scrutiny.

Community Reactions: Mixed and Heated

News of the cancellation quickly lit up social media, drawing a mix of celebration, criticism, and speculation.

Some users viewed the split as inevitable. One commentator wrote that Riyadh’s “esports dream crashing after the IOC pulls out isn’t shocking at all,” arguing that several Vision 2030 projects have “hit roadblocks” due to overambitious goals. Others were less diplomatic, with one quipping that “somebody realised it’s not a sport.”

However, supporters of Saudi’s esports push insisted the setback won’t slow the nation down. “Losing this deal doesn’t slow Saudi,” one fan wrote. “Whether it’s building leagues, supporting developers, or hosting events like the World Cup, Saudi is leading the way.”

What’s Next for the Olympic Esports Games?

While the inaugural Olympic Esports Games were initially targeted for 2027, that date now appears uncertain. The IOC says it is exploring new partners and models to bring the event to life, potentially opening the door to bids from other nations or private organisers.

Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia will continue down its own path with domestic esports events and major global tournaments, using its vast resources and growing gaming infrastructure to maintain its momentum.

For now, though, the Olympic Esports dream in Riyadh has come to an end, and both sides will need to rethink how they plan to shape the future of competitive gaming on the world stage.

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The International Olympic Committee (IOC) and Intel have announced a long-term technology partnership at an official signing ceremony in New York with IOC President Thomas Bach and Brian Krzanich, Intel’s chief executive officer.

Intel will join “The Olympic Partner” (TOP) worldwide sponsorship program, becoming a Worldwide TOP Partner through 2024. This partnership will transform the Olympic Games and the Olympic experience.

“As a result of Olympic Agenda 2020, the IOC is forging groundbreaking partnerships, said Bach. “Intel is a world leader in its field, and we’re very excited to be working with the Intel team to drive the future of the Olympic Games through cutting-edge technology. The Olympic Games provide a connection between fans and athletes that has inspired people around the world through sport and the Olympic values of excellence, friendship and respect. Thanks to our new innovative global partnership with Intel, fans in the stadium, athletes and audiences around the world will soon experience the magic of the Olympic Games in completely new ways.”

“We are excited to join the Olympic Movement and integrate Intel’s innovative technologies to advance the Olympic Games experience for fans around the world,” said Krzanich. “Through this close collaboration with the Olympic family, we will accelerate the adoption of technology for the future of sports on the world’s largest athletic stage.”

The Olympic Games offer an unparalleled global platform to showcase what Intel technology can do to transform the future of sports. The first Olympic Games activation will take place at the Olympic Winter Games Pyeongchang 2018, in South Korea, in February 2018, where Intel technology will provide real-time virtual reality viewing of the Olympic Winter Games.

Working with the IOC, Intel’s contributions to the Olympic Movement will include technology developments that will be rolled out as the multiyear partnership evolves with technological and content support for Olympic Broadcasting Services’ host broadcaster operations, as well as for the Olympic Channel, the multiplatform destination where fans can discover, engage and share in the power of sport and the excitement of the Olympic Games all year round.

Intel’s 5G platforms will be used at the Olympic Games to demonstrate how 5G will transform communications over the next decade. Starting in 2018, Intel will partner on what is expected to be the first 5G showcase, setting the stage for the global deployment of 5G.

There will also be VR! Intel True VR will offer the first live virtual reality broadcast of the Olympic Winter Games, providing fans the opportunity for a more immersive experience from their own homes.

Even more impressive is the inclusion of Drones, where a Intel drone light show technology will create never-seen-before images in the sky.

Intel 360 replay technology will allow fans to experience the greatest, most memorable Olympic moments from every angle at the Olympic venues. In the future, TV viewers at home will be able to experience what it’s like to be at the Olympic Games with a front-row seat, or choose from many different viewing points in the Olympic venues. The power to choose what they want to see and how they want to experience the Olympic Games will be in the hands of the fans.

As a Worldwide TOP Partner, Intel will support the National Olympic Committees and their teams around the world, as well as the IOC and the Organizers of the Olympic Games. Intel’s global activation rights will include the Olympic Winter Games Pyeongchang 2018, the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022 and the Olympic Games in 2024 in a city yet to be selected.

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