The International Olympic Committee (IOC) will bring together more than 120 representatives from the Olympic Movement and the video game industry on June 2 at an exclusive forum in Lausanne, Switzerland. This gathering marks a key step in building the first Olympic Esports Games, to be held in 2027 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, following the historic decision made by the 142nd IOC Session in July 2023.

The Publishers and Developers Forum for the Olympic Esports Games will be a unique space for dialogue and knowledge exchange between key stakeholders in traditional sports and the gamer ecosystem. With institutional presentations and panels on the evolution of sports and esports, the event seeks to foster deep collaborations that strengthen the shared vision for this new Olympic format.

A platform to connect communities and define the digital Olympic future

The forum program will address central topics such as integration opportunities between sports and esports, technological and governance challenges, and the aspirations both communities share in this rapidly changing landscape. The panels will also allow discussion of key criteria for the development of the Olympic Esports Games, whose first edition will be a milestone for innovation within the Olympic Movement.

Beyond being a planning event, the forum in Lausanne aims to build long-term relationships between the IOC and video game developers, opening a space for co-creation and continuous dialogue. This initiative reaffirms the IOC’s commitment to younger generations and its willingness to adapt Olympism to the languages and platforms of today, looking toward a global event that combines sporting excellence with digital culture.