The IOC Esports Commission, led by the UCI President, will study the creation of an Esports Olympics, a game-changing decision with immense implications for the future of cycling esports.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is paving the way for the Olympic Esports Games by establishing an IOC Esports Commission. IOC President Thomas Bach unveiled these plans during the 141st IOC Session in Mumbai, India, on October 14, 2023, marking the initial steps toward realizing the vision of an Olympic Esports Games.
The formation of the new Esports Commission in September was a groundbreaking decision announced as part of the regular IOC Commissions update for 2023. This development holds immense importance for the future of esports events organized by the IOC.
IOC Commissions serve as advisory bodies to the President of the IOC, the IOC Session, or the IOC Executive Board and a pathway to progress and change in the organization.
David Lappartient, the President of the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) and the IOC Esports Liaison Group leader, which organized the Olympic Esports Week in Singapore in June, will chair the newly established Esports Commission.
IOC representatives pointed to the words of President Thomas Bach, who stated during the session, “I have asked our new IOC Esports Commission to study the creation of Olympic Esports Games” when asked if cycling esports is under consideration for inclusion in this agenda.
In 2021, the IOC unanimously approved an agenda aimed at fostering the development of virtual sports and engagement with video gaming communities. When introducing the Olympic Esports Series 2023, IOC President Thomas Bach emphasized: “Our approach to esports prioritizes virtual sports, which involve physical activity, such as cycling, rowing, and even Taekwondo in electronic form, among other sports.”
Bach went on to say, “We are particularly interested in these virtual sports because the physical activity of these athletes is on par with that of athletes in traditional sports. Whether you’re tackling a leg of the Tour de France on your home bicycle or participating in the real event, the physical demands remain the same, presenting similar challenges.”
Bah emphasized the success of their inclusive approach, stating, “Building on the learnings from the Olympic Virtual Series (May 13 through June 23, 2021), we then launched the Olympic Esports week in Singapore earlier this year. In Singapore, we saw proof that our holistic approach is working. We successfully brought together the Olympic and the Esports communities.”
The Olympic Esports Series featured 131 players from 64 countries who engaged in live finals in Singapore from June 22 to 25, 2023, including sixteen elite esports cyclists. This cycling esports competition, conducted on the virtual platform Zwift, was among the ten sports featured in the Olympic Esports Series.
The IOC stated, “The announcement of the Olympic Esports Series 2023 and Olympic Esports Week 2023 marked the next major step in supporting the development of virtual sports within the Olympic Movement and engaging further with competitive gamers.”
The 16 cycling esports athletes showcased the excellence of their discipline and made history as the inaugural Olympic competitors. The first Olympic Esports Week attracted around 20,000 visitors over four days, with packed houses at many finals and a global online audience. Half a million individuals participated in the qualifying events for the opportunity to compete in the live Olympic Esports Series finals.
The UCI has expressed its support for cycling esports in future Olympic programs, stating, “The Olympics Esports Week demonstrated what an exciting and innovative discipline cycling esports is for both athletes and audiences. The event was truly successful in terms of demonstrating an engaging and captivating new direction for the sport. The UCI indeed supports cycling esports to be included in future Olympic programs.”
UCI President Lappartient’s favorable relationship with the IOC provides a significant advantage for the future of cycling esports, potentially placing it ahead of other sports featured in the Esports Series. However, this also raises the bar, creating high expectations for Olympic-level inclusion with little margin for error.
Regarding considering cycling esports for medal status in 2028, the IOC’s response after the OES event was, “Currently, there are no plans to include Esports in the Olympic program.” They have made a public about-face.
The recent shift in the public stance reflects esports’ global popularity and influence, particularly among the younger generation. IOC President Thomas Bach highlighted the massive engagement, with three billion people participating in esports and gaming worldwide and a significant portion, over 500 million, showing a specific interest in esports and virtual sports. Notably, most of these enthusiasts are under the age of 34, underlining the significance of esports within the youth demographic.
The importance of cycling esports’ representation in the Olympics cannot be overstated and could be the catalyst for the sport’s much-needed growth. Jim Miller, Chief of Sports Performance for USA Cycling, acknowledges that one key factor could accelerate this process.
“If esports becomes an Olympic sport, it significantly elevates its status within the USAC. This will boost our efforts and be incredibly beneficial for the sport. It’s an absolute game-changer!” states Miller.
The financial aspect plays a crucial role here. The majority of USAC’s funding comes from the USOPC (United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee), which oversees U.S. teams for various international games, including the Olympics.
Miller points out, “They are obviously interested in Olympic medals. If the sport gains Olympic status, we will place greater emphasis on it and allocate higher funding.” The same is true of other nations.
Sources hint that the fate of cycling esports in the 2028 Los Angeles Games will become more apparent during the Paris Olympics in July 2024.
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Semi-retired after more than 20 years as the owner and director of a private Orthopedic Physical Therapy practice, Chris now enjoys the freedom to dedicate himself to his passions—virtual cycling and writing.
Driven to give back to the sport that has enriched his life with countless experiences and relationships, he founded a non-profit organization, TheDIRTDadFund. In the summer of 2022, he rode 3,900 miles from San Francisco to his “Gain Cave” on Long Island, New York, raising support for his charity.
His passion for cycling shines through in his writing, which has been featured in prominent publications like Cycling Weekly, Cycling News, road.cc, Zwift Insider, Endurance.biz, and Bicycling. In 2024, he was on-site in Abu Dhabi, covering the first live, in-person UCI Cycling Esports World Championship.
His contributions to cycling esports have not gone unnoticed, with his work cited in multiple research papers exploring this evolving discipline. He sits alongside esteemed esports scientists as a member of the Virtual Sports Research Network and contributes to groundbreaking research exploring the new frontier of virtual physical sport. Chris co-hosts The Virtual Velo Podcast, too.
