The Olympic Council of Asia will launch the Asian Games Esports Festival to reflect the growing popularity of electronic sports in the continent and the world.
The decision was taken at the 85th OCA Executive Board meeting held online on Sunday, June 30 and followed a proposal by the Chair of the OCA Esports and Martial Arts Committee, Mr. Gordon Tang.
The OCA is planning to hold the Asian Games Esports Festival every two years, with the first edition set for 2025.
The OCA President, Raja Randhir Singh, said the esports festival would build on the success of electronic sports in Asia.
“Esports is becoming more and more popular around the world, especially here in Asia, and the Asian Games Esports Festival will provide another opportunity for the esports community to come together in the Olympic Movement,” said Raja Randhir.
“Esports was one of the most popular tickets at the Hangzhou Asian Games last year and we are confident it will grow in terms of National Olympic Committees and athletes at the 20th Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan in 2026.”
Esports joined the Asian Games as a demonstration sport at the 18th Asian Games in Jakarta-Palembang, Indonesia in 2018 and was elevated to full medal status in Hangzhou, China, where the seven game titles attracted 476 players from 30 NOCs.
Chess Winners of Olympic Esports Week in Singapore
Chess was a medal sport in the 2023 Olympic Esports Week in Singapore. GM Aleksei Sarana of Serbia (center) won the gold medal, silver medalist Maxim Chigaev (left), an individual neutral athlete, and GM Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son of Singapore (right) won the bronze medal. Visit Chess.com | Olympic Esports Series