Image: Olympics (Wikpedia)

Author: VANAS Team

The First Olympic Esports Games

Table of Contents

1. What Are the Olympic Esports Games?
2. How Did Esports Become Part of the Olympics?
3. Why Is Riyadh Hosting the First Olympic Esports Games?
4. The Esports World Cup Foundation’s Role
5. How Esports Will Change the Olympic Experience
6. Why Animation Matters in Esports
7. How VANAS Can Help Future Esports Creators
8. Frequently Asked Questions

What Are the Olympic Esports Games?

The Olympic Esports Games is a brand-new event where video gamers will compete on the global stage — just like athletes in traditional Olympic sports. The first edition will take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in 2027.

This is a huge deal for the esports community! For the first time, video game players will have a dedicated Olympic event where they can represent their countries and compete at the highest level.

From fast-paced shooters to strategy games, esports competitions showcase teamwork, precision, and skill. Many of these games rely heavily on animation to create the vibrant characters, worlds, and effects that keep players and viewers engaged.

How Did Esports Become Part of the Olympics?

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) started exploring esports in 2018. Since then, the IOC has worked to understand esports culture and find ways to include it in the Olympic Movement.

In 2023, the IOC held the Olympic Esports Week in Singapore — a successful event that convinced officials to go even further. Later that year, the IOC President asked the IOC Esports Commission to explore the idea of a dedicated esports event.

By July 2024, the IOC approved the Olympic Esports Games, making history by giving esports players their own Olympic platform.

Why Is Riyadh Hosting the First Olympic Esports Games?

Saudi Arabia has quickly become a major hub for esports. In the past two years alone, Riyadh has hosted massive esports tournaments that brought together:

• Over 1,700 elite players
• Participants from 80+ countries
• Nearly 4 million live spectators
• 1.3 billion viewers worldwide

With such a strong esports presence, Riyadh was the perfect choice to host the first Olympic Esports Games.

The Esports World Cup Foundation’s Role

The Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) will play a key role in shaping the Olympic Esports Games. The EWCF is known for organizing major esports tournaments and creating fair competition rules.

By partnering with the IOC, the EWCF will help:

• Develop fair qualification pathways for players
• Ensure games follow strict competition standards
• Connect national esports communities to international events

This partnership will help esports grow while ensuring the Olympic Esports Games remain competitive and exciting for players and fans alike.

How Esports Will Change the Olympic Experience

The Olympic Esports Games will introduce new audiences to the Olympic Movement, combining the fast-paced world of gaming with the tradition of global sports competition.

Esports fans will see familiar games played on the biggest stage in the world. Players will compete for medals, proudly representing their countries — just like Olympic athletes in swimming, track, or gymnastics.

The event will also highlight the creativity behind esports. Games often feature incredible animation, breathtaking visual effects, and memorable character designs — all created by talented digital artists.

Why Animation Matters in Esports

Esports games rely on animation to create exciting and engaging experiences. From the fluid movement of characters to explosive visual effects, animation helps bring video games to life.

In esports, every detail matters:

• Character animations help players understand movement and attacks
• Environmental effects make worlds feel alive and immersive
• UI animations provide clear feedback for players in high-pressure moments

Without animation, esports games wouldn’t be as thrilling to watch — or play.

How VANAS Can Help Future Esports Creators

The rise of the Olympic Esports Games creates exciting career opportunities for digital artists, animators, and game designers.

At VANAS Online Animation School, students can develop skills in:

• 3D Animation for dynamic game characters
• Visual Effects (VFX) to create powerful explosions, magic effects, and other in-game visuals
• Game Design to craft the worlds and mechanics behind competitive games

If you're passionate about esports, animation, or digital art, VANAS can help you turn that passion into a rewarding career.

VANAS Online Animation School offers Animation, Visual Effects, and Video Game programs. To launch your career, visit https://www.vanas.ca.

Frequently Asked Questions

What games will be featured in the Olympic Esports Games?

• The IOC hasn’t announced the official game lineup yet, but expect popular competitive titles that challenge players’ skills, strategy, and teamwork.

How can someone qualify for the Olympic Esports Games?

• The IOC and EWCF are working on clear qualification pathways to ensure the best players worldwide have a fair chance to compete.

Why are esports being included in the Olympics?

• Esports have grown into a massive global industry with millions of fans and skilled competitors. Including esports in the Olympics helps connect new generations to the Olympic Movement.

What skills are important for working in esports animation?

• Skills in 3D modeling, character animation, and visual effects are essential. Learning game design principles and understanding player psychology can also help you create engaging esports experiences.

Is a career in esports animation a good option for creative students?

• Absolutely! With the esports industry expanding, talented animators and artists are in high demand. Games need captivating characters, detailed environments, and stunning effects to keep players engaged.

VANAS Online Animation School offers Animation, Visual Effects, and Video Game programs. To launch your career, visit https://www.vanas.ca.