IOC reveals if Valorant will be in the Esports Olympics

Luke Warr Published July 24, 2024

The first-ever Esports Olympics will be held in Saudi Arabia in 2025, but can an upstart esports title like Valorant make it in?

The International Olympic Committee and the National Olympic Committee of Saudi Arabia recently announced the Olympic Esports Games. Unlike previous esports events backed by the IOC, the Olympic Esports Games will be far more than just an exhibition. It will be a full-blown event, featuring different competitive games. IOC president Thomas Bach calls it “a new era for the IOC.” Most people online point to staples like League of Legends and Counter-Strike 2 as obvious inclusions for the event. However, Valorant quickly began to make a case for itself, breaking viewership records with each passing year.

Will Valorant may make history as part of the first-ever Olympics Esports Games?

Will Valorant be in the 2025 Esports Olympics?

Valorant will not be at the 2025  Esports Olympics due to being a first-person shooter.

The IOC has officially disbarred all explicitly violent games from appearing at the Olympics, with IOC head of esports Vincent Pereira claiming that FPS titles will never feature in the games. However, Saudi Arabia has a good relationship with Riot. During the Esports World Cup, Saudi Arabia promoted League of Legends as one of the most hyped tournaments. Although Valorant didn’t make it into the Esports World Cup in 2024, it may join the Olympic Esports Games in future years.

For the inaugural games, the committee opted for “virtual sports” titles like Tic Tac Bow and digital chess. With Saudi Arabia’s stake in the esports industry, the country could influence the IOC to include more contemporary esports titles. Valorant would fit the bill perfectly, given its blend of tactical gameplay with MOBA abilities akin to League of Legends.

Which country is the favorite to win Valorant in the 2025 Olympic Esports Games?

Countries with the potential to take Valorant gold at a future Esports Olympics are Brazil, Russia, and South Korea.

In the community, Brazilian Valorant pro players have a reputation for their sharpshooting prowess. Brazilian teams like LOUD showed the world why Valorant players are so exciting to watch. Russian team Gambit also hosts one of the most dominant rosters in all of Valorant. South Korea has always had an affinity for Riot Games, and Gen. G’s impressive performance in 2024 proves that it extends to shooters. Still, Valorant’s youth means no one country has dominated the scene just yet. The Olympics Esports Games could change all that for Valorant.