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Saudi Arabia to Host 2025 Olympic Esports Games

Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Faisal, Saudi Minister of Sport and President of the Saudi Arabian Olympic and Paralympic Committee (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Faisal, Saudi Minister of Sport and President of the Saudi Arabian Olympic and Paralympic Committee (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Arabia to Host 2025 Olympic Esports Games

Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Faisal, Saudi Minister of Sport and President of the Saudi Arabian Olympic and Paralympic Committee (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Faisal, Saudi Minister of Sport and President of the Saudi Arabian Olympic and Paralympic Committee (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi Arabia will host the inaugural Olympic Esports Games in 2025, thanks to a new 12-year partnership with the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
This agreement highlights Saudi Arabia’s growing influence in the esports world and follows its successful hosting of numerous global tournaments.
Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Faisal, Minister of Sport and President of the Saudi Arabian Olympic and Paralympic Committee, said that this decision by the IOC showcases the kingdom’s strong support for sports, driven by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
He emphasized that Saudi Arabia is now a major destination for international sports events.
“Saudi Arabia is hugely excited by the prospect of partnering with the IOC and helping to welcome a completely new era for international sport,” he said.
“We believe that to take part in the Olympic Games is one of the greatest honors any athlete can achieve,” he added.
“And we are proud to support the writing of a new chapter in Olympic history that has the potential to inspire new dreams and new ambitions for literally millions of athletes around the world,” affirmed Prince Abdulaziz.
Princess Reema bint Bandar Al-Saud, an IOC Member, member of the Board of Directors of the Saudi Arabian Olympic and Paralympic Committee and President of the Women’s Committee, expressed her delight over the new partnership.
She emphasized the generous support of the Saudi leadership for the sports sector, particularly esports, which has seen unprecedented growth. This progress has enabled young men and women to achieve their ambitions.
“We are proud of the significant support our leadership provides to sports in Saudi Arabia, especially esports, which has developed remarkably. This partnership between the IOC and the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee marks a historic step, ushering Olympic sports into a new era focused on the future,” said Princess Reema.
“We are very fortunate to be able to work with the Saudi National Olympic Committee on the Olympic Esports Games, because it has great – if not unique – expertise in the field of esports with all its stakeholders,” IOC president Thomas Bach said in a statement.
Saudi Arabia’s new partnership with the IOC to host the Olympic Esports Games solidifies its position as a top destination for major sports events. This move is a key milestone in the kingdom’s ambition to become the global center for esports.
The Olympic Esports Games will enhance Saudi Arabia’s reputation, adding to its successful hosting of major esports tournaments, including the ongoing Esports World Cup in Riyadh.
The event will gather the world’s best players to compete for their national teams, combining the tradition of the Olympic Games with the popularity of esports.
In 2025, the world will focus on Saudi Arabia for this groundbreaking event, showcasing the kingdom’s growing influence in the sports world.

 

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Athletes Stick Around Paris Games to Watch Other Sports and Get the Full Olympic Experience

Taylor Knibb, left, Morgan Pearson, Taylor Spivey and Seth Rider, right, of the United States, jump as they hold their medals at the end of the medal ceremony for the mixed relay triathlon at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
Taylor Knibb, left, Morgan Pearson, Taylor Spivey and Seth Rider, right, of the United States, jump as they hold their medals at the end of the medal ceremony for the mixed relay triathlon at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
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Athletes Stick Around Paris Games to Watch Other Sports and Get the Full Olympic Experience

Taylor Knibb, left, Morgan Pearson, Taylor Spivey and Seth Rider, right, of the United States, jump as they hold their medals at the end of the medal ceremony for the mixed relay triathlon at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
Taylor Knibb, left, Morgan Pearson, Taylor Spivey and Seth Rider, right, of the United States, jump as they hold their medals at the end of the medal ceremony for the mixed relay triathlon at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

For many athletes at the Paris Olympics, the fun was just beginning after they were done competing.
During the second full week of the 2024 Olympics, going home wasn't an option. Now that the pressure of having to compete is gone, it was time to become a fan: Enjoy Paris and watch other sports.
“I’m a huge track fan,” said triathlete Morgan Pearson, who won the silver medal with the US team in the mixed relay on Monday. “I hope to go to some of those races. I’m a huge Olympic fan in general.”
American sport climber Zach Hammer, who was finished competing on Tuesday, also was headed to the track, The Associated Press reported.
“I would definitely be excited to watch the men’s 200(-meter) with (Noah) Lyles. He’s one of my favorite athletes,” he said. “I’m definitely excited to get the full Olympic experience, and I’ll go watch whatever there is to watch. It will definitely be cool to see Americans competing on the biggest stage.”
US rower Jacob Plihal was among those who stayed in town after competing during the first week.
“Hopefully I can watch a little handball if that’s still going, maybe 3x3 basketball," he said. “I don’t know what the schedules are. I’ve been focused on the racing but I’m excited to stick around and watch other sports, cheer Team USA on and get to know some athletes at the (Olympic) Village.”
Another American sport climber, Sam Watson, who broke the speed world record in an elimination heat on Tuesday, was making the most out of his stay at the village. He was challenging fellow athletes to chess games and trying to get selfies with a member of every delegation at the Games.
Some of the American women rowers who competed last week were at the women's basketball game between the US and Nigeria on Wednesday.
Molly Thompson-Smith, a British sport climber, was interested in watching some of the other smaller sports that don’t often get much attention. She said “it’s been really cool to kind of learn how they work and all the weird things about them.”
Thompson-Smith added that she "did see a bit of beach volleyball,” but “I think everyone wants to see the athletics, just to see something like that and feel the atmosphere of the crowd would be incredible. But I’m open to seeing anything now ... I’m here to make as many memories and see as much as I possibly can.”
Rower Viktorija Senkute, who won Lithuania’s first medal at the Games last week, was sticking around to watch her boyfriend, Simonas Maldonis, compete in canoe sprint.
Athletes can watch their own discipline with their accreditation, but need tickets for other sports. Some said they can get them through their national Olympic committees, or with the International Olympic Committee, which gives each athlete one free ticket per day.
There was an additional Olympic experience for athletes this time in Paris, as for the first time in the Summer Games organizers gave them a place to be closer to fans and celebrate their medals. In the new Champions Park, athletes got a chance to parade with their medals and interact with fans.
“I feel as if this year they’ve done a really good job of treating after winning athletes with memories that we’re going to cherish forever,” French rugby player Aaron Grandidier Nkanang said after going to the Champions Park. “We’re just in front of the Eiffel Tower, and there’s thousands of people out to come and cheer us on.”