Will esports be included as a medal event at the 2028 Olympics?

The IOC has taken incremental steps toward esports, launching the Olympic Esports Series in 2023, but has consistently stopped short of medal inclusion. The 2028 program is largely finalized, and esports was not included in the initial sport selections. IOC President Bach's successor may take a different approach, but the institutional inertia and philosophical resistance to non-physical sports make full medal status by 2028 highly unlikely.

Last updated: Mar 2, 2026

Resolves YES if the IOC formally includes esports as an official medal event in the 2028 LA Olympics program. Demonstration events or exhibition matches do not qualify.

Source: IOC Official Program Announcement

Expected resolution: July 1, 2028