The uncertain future of Olympic Esports Games

As the countdown to the Milano-Cortina 2026 Games begins, the joint future of esports and the Olympic Movement remains in limbo. Behind the official rhetoric of the IOC presidency, a clear direction is still pending, with South Korea seemingly ready to take the reins. The Olympic Esports Games project, originally driven by a partnership with Saudi Arabia, has been placed under a "Pause and Reflect" period.

The collapse of the Saudi agreement in late 2025 revealed a deep ideological divide. Beyond financial stakes, the IOC demanded strict adherence to the Olympic Charter, including the inclusion of women in leadership roles, and strict non-discrimination clauses—specifically regarding sexual orientation and the universal right of all National Olympic Committees (NOCs) to compete. These conditions clashed with Riyadh’s specific governance model. The inaugural Olympic Esports Games, due to take place in Saudi Arabia in 2027, has also been cancelled in November 2025.

The IOC’s withdrawal from the 12-year partnership is not, according to IOC President Kirsty Coventry, a matter of political discomfort but a necessity for internal consistency. During the recent IOC public roundtable, the president clarified

This withdrawal was also accelerated by internal tensions and an ethics complaint against former IOC Vice President Ser Miang Ng, who was accused of conflicts of interest and having "mixed his many positions with family business" in connection with Olympic esports projects. For Kirsty Coventry, this delay is an opportunity to test the movement's "Future Readiness."

In short, it is about determining whether Olympic idealism can survive in a sector dominated by private commercial interests and games owned by private companies.

Despite the reported tensions over non-discrimination and governance, the IOC presidency insists the split with Saudi Arabia was consensual: "I do need to clarify as well that both parties agreed. [...] It just has been a time for us really to look at what it is that we want."

The major challenge, which has been long-debated, remains the structural tension between private intellectual property holders (game publishers) and the institutional governance of the Olympic Movement. This is a hurdle that next November's Saudi-backed Esports Nations Cup does not face, as it looks to take the spot vacated by the Olympic Esports Games.

The latest IOC meeting revealed a striking disparity in preparation among International Federations, about the OEG, which are meant to serve as national relays. "Some federations are really very proactive. They're already in the gaming community, but others not as much," Kirsty Coventry said.

This lack of homogeneity prevents, for now, the creation of a united front capable of negotiating with the video game giants who hold the Intellectual Property (IP) of flagship titles. For the IOC, this pause is meant to define "how we want to proceed, what that looks like."

Even before the official end of the partnership, Saudi Arabia had stepped into the breach of nation-based competitions by announcing the Esports Nations Cup last August. Scheduled for late 2026, the event will serve as an "esports equivalent of the Olympic Games", featuring 16 different titles where players from across the globe will compete for their respective countries. The initiative is currently in its plan phase, with the organization opening applications for national partners (open to anyone ready to manage their country's selections).

The ENC does not seem concerned with the "Olympic spirit," making room for the ecosystem's most-played titles by dealing directly with rights holders, as they already do for the club-based Esports World Cup. The Saudi organization does not have the same need as the IOC to link a game and a federation in order to make it a discipline, nor does it have any restrictions on “violent” games.

The lineup already includes Trackmania, Dota 2 (one of the world's most popular MOBAs on PC, owned by Valve), and Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (owned by Moonton and one of the biggest mobile esport games).

While other heavyweights like League of Legends, VALORANT, Honor of Kings, or Counter-Strike are not yet confirmed, the ENC can already boast the biggest nation-based esports competition, far removed from the IOC’s previous featured games, such as during the 2023 Olympic Esports Week (Just Dance, WBSC eBASEBALL™: POWER PROS, Virtual Taekwondo, Gran Turismo, etc.).

One discordant point remains: many other IOC members have recognized the importance of featuring “real esports titles” in these competitions. The most compelling and illustrative example is the Asian Games, organized by the Olympic Council of Asia, which include some of the most watched and actively played games in the esports ecosystem. The significance of this approach is such that South Korea, as with the Olympic Games, grants military service exemptions to athletes who return with a medal.

In the diplomatic vacuum left by the Saudi withdrawal, South Korea is deploying a state strategy to secure the organization of the first Olympic Esports Games, potentially as early as 2027. Driven by figures like quadruple Olympic shooting champion Jin Jong-oh, now a lawmaker, the ambition seems clear: making esports an integrated sport like any other.

In late January 2026, the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee reached a milestone by launching an inter-ministerial working group, bringing together the Ministry of Culture, academic experts, sports federations, and gaming industry figures. Ryu Seung-min, KSOC President and former IOC member, sees this as a historic opportunity:

KeSPA (the national esports association) Secretary General Kim Cheol-hak recently explained that hosting the Olympic Esports Games just once would be a mistake and that it should perhaps be held two or three times in South Korea. He argues this would allow the model to stabilize and set a standard for future editions.

However, the challenge is not only international but also domestic to South Korea. To lead this bid, KeSPA must become a full member of the KSOC (a status that requires the approval of 12 of the country's 16 regional committees). This administrative deadlock is difficult to break as long as the perception of esports as a traditional sport remains divided in South Korea.

As explained by the media outlet Sports Seoul, hosting the event is not a final goal but a "starting line" to modernize institutions and resolve sovereign issues like athlete status. According to the same article, the IOC "is bringing the creation of the ‘Olympic Esports Games’ onto its official agenda," and "the matter will be discussed at the IOC Session to be held during the Milano–Cortina."