Olympic Esports Games Uncertain as IOC Pauses Esports Commission

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has reportedly put the activities of the Esports Commission on hold. This decision has cast uncertainty over the future of the Olympic Esports Games, which were initially planned to take place in 2025 via an agreement with Saudi Arabia. The event was later postponed to 2027 but was unexpectedly cancelled in October 2023 after the agreement between the IOC and Saudi Arabia fell through.

The Olympic Esports Week, held in Singapore in 2023, had paved the way for the much-anticipated Olympic Esports Games. The effort to make these games a reality under the former IOC President, Thomas Bach, was significant. However, the new IOC President, Kirsty Coventry, who assumed the role in June 2024, seems to maintain focus on existing sports rather than the addition of new ones, such as esports.

At the time of writing, the IOC hasn’t officially addressed the issue. It remains to be confirmed whether the decision to pause the activities of the Esports Commission is temporary or permanent and how that will impact the future of the Olympic Esports Games.