The Inclusion of eSports in the Olympic System: From Neglect to eSports Games

Although relatively rapid from the late 2010s onward, the inclusion of organized video game competitions – commonly known as eSports – in the Olympic world did not happen overnight. Three phases are distinguished. After an initial phase marked by indifference or rejection, several experiments were conducted in a second phase by international sports federations (IFs) and the International Olympic Committee (IOC), ultimately leading to the IOC decision to announce creation the Olympic eSports Games in 2023, a new cycle of Olympic competitions in the making. The inclusion of eSports in the Olympic system is explained by two main strategic reasons (economic and political). Olympic public documents on the subject, media articles and discussions with key decision makers highlight the salient facts of each of these three phases and their motivations, providing a better knowledge of the origins of the Olympic eSports Games and enabling stakeholders to follow and understand their future development from 2026 onwards.