IOC announces plans for the first-ever Olympic Esports Games

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2024 All Rights Reserved

LUCERNE, SWITZERLAND (June 14, 2024) The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is set to launch the Olympic Esports Games, a new event featuring digital sports under the Olympic brand. This decision came after a report from the IOC’s Esports Commission during a three-day Executive Board meeting held in Lausanne, Switzerland. The proposal will be brought to the IOC Session for approval when it meets in Paris on July 22.

IOC President Thomas Bach stated that David Lappartient, the Commission Chair who has been involved in this initiative since 2018, will continue to be a part of this new branch of the Olympic Movement. The IOC previously tested the waters with the Olympic Virtual Series in 2021 and the Olympic Esports Series in Singapore in June 2023.

“This will bring our engagement in esports to a completely new level,” Bach said.

Currently, there are two major international federations that organize Esports world championships: the International Esports Federation (IeSF) based in South Korea, and the Global Esports Federation (GEF) in Singapore. However, these are not recognized by the IOC. Both federations host popular competitive titles, including battle games and simulated sports.

Bach has emphasized that the Olympic Esports Games will focus on family-friendly, non-violent titles, unlike some of the more popular violent games in the esports world. The IOC's Esports events have included games like Zwift for cycling and online Chess, aiming to promote Olympic values.

Some gamers have criticized the IOC’s choice of titles for not including their favorites. For instance, Epic Games' popular Fortnite was modified to a target shooting game for the Olympic Esports Series. Despite this, Bach believes the Olympic Esports Games will become a prestigious event in the esports world, much like the traditional Olympic Games.

The IOC will manage and finance the Olympic Esports Games separately from the traditional Olympics to ensure the financial stability of its member sports federations. The first host city for the event is yet to be announced, with Japan being a strong candidate. However, final decisions will be made after the IOC members vote in July.

This new initiative marks a significant step in integrating esports into the Olympic Movement, promising an exciting future for digital sports enthusiasts worldwide.