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IOC suspends activities of its special commission on eSports — Japanese daily

The source added that a strong controversy remains within the IOC regarding eSports being recognized as a sports discipline

TOKYO, May 4. /TASS/. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has suspended the work of its special-purpose commission on eSports, Japan’s daily Livedoor reported on Monday.

According to the daily’s unnamed source, the IOC has suspended its eSports Commission’s activities and the organization is unlikely to review this issue under the IOC’s current presidency, which is more focused on "traditional sports."

The source also added that a strong controversy remains within the IOC regarding eSports being recognized as a sports discipline. IOC President Kirsty Coventry sent a letter to the members of the eSports Commission in January.

She proposed in that letter to review the position on the development of this direction, as, in her opinion, the next stage would require a more integrated approach to match the overall strategy of the International Committee. Representatives of the IOC stated at that time the Commission's activities were "over."

In October, the IOC refused to hold the eSports Olympics in Saudi Arabia. The decision was a mutual one. Both sides intended to develop their eSports ambitions in different ways. At that time, the IOC stated that they intended to develop a new approach to the Olympic eSports Games.

The IOC announced its intention to hold the eSports Olympiad in June 2024. Prior to that, an eSports week was held at the initiative of the IOC, and in September 2023, the organization created an eSports Commission.

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