MOSCOW, February 11. /TASS/. Russian athletes are prepared to consider participating in the esports Olympics only if they are allowed to use national symbols, Dmitry Smit, President of the Russian Computer Sports Federation, told TASS.
Earlier, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) selected a contractor for the first esports Olympics, the Esports World Cup Foundation. The inaugural Olympic Esports Games will be held in Riyadh in 2027.
"The Russian Computer Sports Federation is not affiliated with the Sports World Cup Foundation. It is a major tournament operator that organizes all major international tournaments under the auspices of the IDSF (International Esports Federation - TASS). Of course, it is crucial for the Russian Computer Sports Federation to take part in the Olympic Esports Games. However, it is first and foremost vital that our athletes compete on equal terms with others. Sport should unite, and any form of discrimination against athletes based on nationality or any other reason is unacceptable. We are ready to compete in the Olympic Games only with the official symbols: the flag and the anthem of Russia."
The IOC introduced the Esports Olympics in June 2024.