Olympic Esports Series

The Olympic Esports Series^[a] is an Olympic Games-style esports event, planned to be held annually,^[2] featuring multiple different virtual sports and video games coming together in a single location similar to a multi-sport event, run by the International Olympic Committee.

While esports and competitive video gaming have traditionally not been considered a sport, the Olympic Movement began taking an interest as early as 2007, when esports was included at the 2007 Asian Indoor Games. In 2017, an Olympic Summit was held focused on the International Olympic Committee and esports. After an online-only Olympic Virtual Series was held during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021 in five sports, the IOC eventually announced the creation of the Olympic Esports Series, as part of the Olympic Esports Week, in November 2022. The inaugural edition was held in Singapore in June 2023, with a second edition planned for 2024.^[2]

The events at the Olympic Esports Series have a connection with traditional Olympic sports, as the video game titles selected are chosen by international federations. There is a mix of both physical sport taking place in a virtual world, such as in Zwift, as well as sports-based video games such as Gran Turismo. The lack of traditional esports titles at the Olympic Esports Series, and the inclusion of lesser-known games representing traditional Olympic sports, has been the subject of criticism.

Unlike at the Olympic Games, medals and diplomas are not awarded at the Olympic Esports Series. The top three in each event are awarded gold-, silver-, and bronze-coloured trophies instead of medals.^[3]

^ "Le CIO annonce les Olympic Esports Series 2023 – les vainqueurs seront désignés à l'issue des finales qui se dérouleront en direct à Singapour du 22 au 25 juin" (Press release) (in French). International Olympic Committee. 1 March 2023. Retrieved 16 July 2023.
^ ^a ^b Cite error: The named reference itg24 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ "Gamers meet Games in inaugural Olympic Esports Week". CNN.com. Reuters. 22 June 2023. Retrieved 16 July 2023.

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[1] "Le CIO annonce les Olympic Esports Series 2023 – les vainqueurs seront désignés à l'issue des finales qui se dérouleront en direct à Singapour du 22 au 25 juin" (Press release) (in French). International Olympic Committee. 1 March 2023. Retrieved 16 July 2023.

[itg24-3] Cite error: The named reference itg24 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[Reuters_CNN-4] "Gamers meet Games in inaugural Olympic Esports Week". CNN.com. Reuters. 22 June 2023. Retrieved 16 July 2023.

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