Esports will be removed from the official Asian Games sports program following the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Games. The Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) has already voted to separate esports into a standalone multi-sport competition and recently confirmed the host city for the inaugural event.
According to the decision document from the 90th Executive Board meeting released by the OCA, the board unanimously approved a proposal from the Esports, Martial Arts, and Mind Sports Committee on November 26, 2024. The decision explicitly states that esports will be removed from the Asian Games program following the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, with a separate Asian Esports and Mind Games to be hosted instead.
This decision does not affect the competition program for the upcoming Aichi-Nagoya Games. The OCA is proceeding as planned with 11 esports titles, including Fighting Game Team Event, 'Pokémon UNITE', 'League of Legends', and 'Honor of Kings'. However, if the current decision holds, esports will be excluded from the Asian Games medal events starting with the following edition, Doha 2030.
Plans for the standalone event have also taken shape. On the 20th, the OCA announced that it signed a host city contract with Kuwait to hold the inaugural Asian Esports and Mind Sports Games in 2027. Approximately 4,000 athletes are expected to compete across esports and mind sports such as chess. Detailed events and match schedules will be disclosed at a later date.
The OCA is also in discussions with the Philippines to host the second edition in 2029. The host selection will be decided at the 2027 OCA General Assembly in Doha. The OCA President stated that the dedicated competition will offer Asian athletes a new opportunity to showcase their talent.
With this decision, esports moves to a separate stage just two editions after becoming an official Asian Games sport. Esports debuted as a demonstration sport at the 2018 Jakarta-Palembang Games and became an official medal sport for the first time at the 2022 Hangzhou Games (held in 2023). The Aichi-Nagoya Games will be the second—and under current OCA rulings, final—Asian Games to feature esports as an official medal event.
For South Korean players, this represents a major shift regarding national team selection and military service exemption benefits. Under the current Enforcement Decree of the Military Service Act, eligibility for sports personnel alternative service is restricted to athletes who place third or higher at the Olympic Games or first at the Asian Games. The newly established Asian Esports and Mind Sports Games are not included under these criteria. Unless the relevant laws are amended, the Aichi-Nagoya Games will mark the final Asian Games where Korean players subject to military duty can secure military exemption status through esports.
The OCA did not disclose the reason for removing esports from the Asian Games program in its 2024 decision document or in its announcement of the standalone event. Whether the dedicated multi-sport games will serve as a launchpad offering esports competitors greater participation opportunities or remain merely a substitute after losing official Asian Games status will depend on the detailed disciplines and operational frameworks revealed in the future.
