The Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) has decided to exclude esports from the Asian Games program following the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 games. Instead, the organization is launching a separate Asian Esports and Mind Sports Games.
The debut tournament in this new specialized format will be hosted by Kuwait in 2027. The host city contract has already been officially signed. According to OCA estimates, the large-scale competition will gather around 4,000 athletes, which should create new opportunities for the development of these disciplines on the continent.
The decision to separate the tournament was unanimously approved in November 2024 at the 90th OCA Executive Board meeting. This initiative also includes the creation of a separate Asian Mind Sports Federation. This is the first new competition launched under the leadership of OCA President HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al-Thani.
The specific list of esports titles, qualification rules, and principles for forming national teams for the 2027 tournament will be announced at a later date. Meanwhile, the OCA is already discussing the possibility of the Philippines hosting the second games in 2029. A final decision on the next host is expected at the OCA General Assembly 2027 in Doha.
Esports already has a history at the Asian Games as an official medal event, most notably at the Hangzhou 2022 tournament. The Aichi-Nagoya 2026 games will mark the final stage of the transition period before the full launch of a dedicated continental platform for esports and mind sports.
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