International Olympic Committee (IOC) has finally decided to put an end to its gaming competition dreams. On May 3, 2026, the organization formally suspended the operations of its esports expert committee, as per reported by the news outlet Kyodo. This marked the drastic change of policy direction of the organization that once promised to move towards the digital world under Thomas Bach’s leadership as IOC president.
IOC Decided to put the Esports Commission Activities on Hold
Under Bach, the IOC was aggressively pursuing the immensely profitable international gaming world. The development of esports tournaments in which they would own the brand and their constant goal was to bring video games in the official list of sports at the Olympics Games. In those days, Bach showed much excitement about the online sector, saying that “We are trying to break new ground and have great potential”.
Nevertheless, the Olympic scenario changed drastically since Kirsty Coventry has been serving as the President of the IOC since June 2025. The focus on classic sports by Coventry since she took office is obvious. The promotion of esports in the Olympics is constantly being met with severe resistance both from traditionalists and the people, who do not support computer games as actual “sports”.
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IOC will Pursue Traditional Sports Instead of Esports
This move by Coventry was hinted at some months ago. In a letter she sent to the members of the committee on January 31, 2026, Coventry made her position very clear. “I will shoulder the responsibilities for the future,” she said. “The next phase will entail a much more unified effort, which must align well with the general policy of the (Olympic Movement).”
Coventry even recommended a thorough evaluation of the entire attitude of the organization towards the industry. As a result, according to recent sources, the IOC insiders no longer see the committee’s previous efforts in the field of gaming as a one-time experiment.
As competition heats up in the highly competitive field of esports, it looks like the IOC is ready to take a step back and focus more on its roots as a sports organization.
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