The Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) officially denied rumors that eSports would be excluded from the Asian Games after the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. The organization confirmed that eSports will maintain its status as an official event.
On September 29, Xinhua News reported that OCA Secretary General Husain Al Musallam stated in a release on September 28, "eSports will continue to be part of the Asian Games framework," emphasizing that the OCA will continue to support the development of eSports in Asia.
Al Musallam explained that the OCA has not made any announcements or notifications regarding the exclusion of eSports from the Asian Games. He clarified that the rumors circulating online do not align with the OCA's direction.
The speculation about eSports' potential exclusion arose after the OCA signed a host city agreement with Kuwait on September 19 to hold the first 'Asian eSports and Mind Sports Games' in 2027. This led to concerns that the establishment of a separate eSports event might result in eSports being removed from the Asian Games.
In response, Al Musallam stated, "The creation of the Asian eSports and Mind Sports Games is intended to provide more opportunities for Asian athletes to showcase their talents," adding that it will not diminish the status of eSports within the Asian Games framework.
He further noted, "The OCA will continue to support the development of eSports in Asia and promote it in other sports events under its umbrella."
eSports first entered the Asian Games as a demonstration sport during the 2018 Jakarta-Palembang Asian Games, featuring games like League of Legends and StarCraft II. South Korea won one gold and one silver medal at that event.
In the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games, eSports was elevated to an official medal event, with seven gold medals at stake. South Korea secured two gold medals, one silver, and one bronze.
The upcoming Aichi-Nagoya Games will feature 11 events, including League of Legends, PUBG Mobile, and Puyo Puyo Champions.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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