The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has put the work of its Esports Commission on hold. This is not a punishment or formal suspension, but a decision to stop its activities for now and lower the priority of esports within the Olympic system.
As per a recent report by Kyodo News, the move comes under IOC President Kirsty Coventry, who has been reviewing how esports fit into the Olympic Movement. In January 2026, she sent letters to members of the Esports Commission saying the IOC would rethink its approach.
She pointed to a more “integrated approach,” meaning esports would not be handled by a separate dedicated body. Following this, the commission’s activities reportedly have either been paused or brought to a close, raising doubts about any near-term Olympic esports events.
This was a clear change from the approach taken under former IOC President Thomas Bach. During his leadership, the IOC pushed harder into esports to attract younger audiences. Events like the Olympic Esports Series were held in 2023 in Singapore, and plans were being developed around the Paris 2024 Olympics. The IOC had also signed a 12-year deal with Saudi Arabia to host Olympic Esports Games in Riyadh. These games were first expected in 2025 and later delayed to 2027.
However, that Saudi deal was canceled on October 30, 2025, after both sides agreed to review the project. The plan involved the Esports World Cup Foundation (now rebranded as Esports Foundation), but a series of factors reportedly made it difficult to continue. These included issues around game publishers’ control over intellectual property, debates about games deemed as “violent” such as first-person shooters, and problems aligning esports formats with Olympic rules like national representation.
Coventry has said any future involvement should be careful and responsible. This could mean focusing more on sports-based video games and simulation rather than mainstream competitive titles.
For now, esports still exists in smaller ways within the Olympic world. Some National Olympic Committees support it, and events like the Asian Games include esports competitions. However, with the Esports Commission now on hold and the Saudi partnership ended, a major Olympic esports event or full integration appears unlikely in the near future.
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