International Olympic Committee to host esports forum

Esports still has a ways to go to prove to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) that it deserves a place in the Olympics. But the IOC and the Global Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF) are hosting a forum next month that may be the next step in that direction.

The forum, which will take place on July 21 at the Olympic Museum in Lausanne, Switzerland, has been set with the purpose to "explore synergies, build joint understanding and set a platform for future engagement between the esports and gaming industries and the Olympic Movement." Esports players, publishers, teams, media, sponors, event organizers, and representatives from the Olympic Movement will all be invited to attend.

"Along with the IOC, the GAISF looks forward to welcoming the esports and gaming community to Lausanne," said GAISF president Patrick Baumann We understand that sport never stands still and the phenomenal growth of esports and gaming is part of its continuing evolution. The Esports Forum provides an important and extremely valuable opportunity for us to gain a deeper understanding of esports, their impact and likely future development, so that we can jointly consider the ways in which we may collaborate to the mutual benefit of all of sport in the years ahead."

The forum will include panels with titles such as "The World of Esports," "What defines the Olympic Movement?," "Gender Equality in All Sports," and others. Panel speakers and interviews will include representatives of both esports and the Olympic Movement.