THE MAN OF THE HOUR! ✨ Tim Yap sure knows how to throw a party! #OnceUponATime 📷: Sparkle GMA Artist Center | GMA Public Affairs

The International Olympic Committee and Saudi Arabia have canceled a 12-year deal for the kingdom to host the Olympic Esports Games, the IOC announced Thursday. The inaugural competition originally was planned for 2025 before being postponed to 2027. "Recently, the two parties (IOC and Saudi Olympic Committee) and the Esports World Cup Foundation sat down again and reviewed this initiative," the IOC statement read. "They mutually agreed that they will end their cooperation on the Olympic Esports