Olympics-IOC to pursue 'Esports Games', says Bach

International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach gestures as he speaks during a news conference, ahead of the 141st IOC Session, in Mumbai, India, October 13, 2023. REUTERS/Niharika Kulkarni/File Photo

MUMBAI (Reuters) - The International Olympic Committee (IOC) will pursue the creation of an Esports Games, President Thomas Bach said in his opening speech at the IOC Session on Saturday.

Bach said he had directed the IOC Esports Commission to study the creation of an Olympic Esports Games and pointed to the overwhelming popularity of esports globally, citing an estimated 3 billion participants around the world.