Will Dota 2 be in the Esports Olympics? Which country would win?

Esports has finally gained recognition from the International Olympics Committee, and many fans hope Dota 2 will join its initial roster of competitive titles.

The International Olympic Committee and the National Olympic Committee of Saudi Arabia announced their joint venture into the first Olympic Esports Games. Saudi Arabia isn’t shy about its intentions of becoming the Mecca of esports, though some critique the country’s motivations for doing so. With the stage set, the only thing left is for the IOC to announce which games will take center stage.

As one of the most iconic esports titles, Dota 2 is definitely worthy of the Esports Olympics, but does the IOC agree?

Will Dota 2 be in the Esports Olympics?

Dota 2 has not been confirmed for the 2025 Olympic Esports Games.

While Dota 2 is a staple of the esports industry, the International Olympic Committee has a strange stance on the games it has chosen to include. During the 2023 Olympic Esports Week held in Singapore, the roster included games like Just Dance and Fortnite, though the latter only featured sharpshooting.

These restrictions exist to avoid the promotion of violence. Games like Dota 2 where the goal is to kill the enemy team on the way to destroy their base don’t paint the most wholesome picture. However, Saudi Arabia’s involvement in this new venture could mean new rules for which games can be added. If Dota 2 makes the list, it’s an inevitability for fans to start discussing which country produces the best Dota 2 players.

Which country would be the best at the Dota 2 Olympic Esports Games?

The best country at Dota 2 is a toss-up between Russia, Ukraine, Sweden, and China.

Russia has the strongest claim with half of two-time TI champion Team Spirit and several all-Russian teams at the top level. A team combining Virtus.pro, BetBoom Team, and Spirit would be difficult to beat. However, Ukraine could contest it with the other half of Team Spirit and players on international rosters like Artem “lorenof” Melnick and Volodymyr “No[o]ne-” Minenko.

China and Sweden also pose a threat. The Chinese scene includes several threats such as Ye “BoBoKa” Zhibiao, Wang “Ame” Chunyu, and legendary captain Zhang “Faith_bian” Ruida. Sweden rounds out the rankings as a dark horse with half of Team Liquid. However, the country could have a tougher time finding a full roster of superstars.