The International Olympic Committee (IOC) says it is still working on esports plans, though its recent actions suggest fans should not expect a major Olympic esports event anytime soon.
In a recent presentation to the Executive Board, IOC President Kirsty Coventry said the organisation’s esports work is “very much alive.” She explained that the project is now being managed directly by her Executive Office with support from an expert. However, she also made it clear that no major decisions will happen before the IOC’s Extraordinary Session in June 2026.
Right now, the IOC is focusing mainly on improving and modernising the traditional Olympic Games. The organisation is working on problems such as rising costs, making the Olympics smaller and easier to host, attracting younger audiences, improving governance, and finding better long-term business models. Because of this, esports is not the IOC’s top priority at the moment.
The IOC had earlier approved the idea of standalone Olympic Esports Games in 2024. The first event was initially expected to happen around 2025 or 2027 in Saudi Arabia. However, the partnership with Saudi organisers fell apart in late 2025. After that, the esports project entered what officials describe as a “pause and reflect” phase. Then, in 2026 IOC’s dedicated Esports Commission has reportedly been suspended or put on hold.
The latest comments from Coventry show that the IOC has not cancelled its esports ambitions, but it is moving slowly and carefully. For now, the IOC’s message is simple: esports is still part of the future plans, but the organisation is in no hurry. A full Olympic Esports Games in 2027 looks unlikely at this stage which means any large event may now happen only after 2028.
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