The Kenya Electronic Sports Federation (KESF) has achieved a major milestone for esport in Kenya with the recognition of the National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOC-K).

Esport’s standing within the Olympic Movement is further enhanced by the recognition, which comes at the same time as KESF is affiliated with their respective international federations.

At a meeting with the national federation at NOC-K’s Westlands, Nairobi, offices, the secretary-general stated, “NOC-K announces the inclusion of Esport in the Olympic Family in Kenya and pledges to

collaborating with the federation to put athletes at the forefront in order to guarantee a successful performance in the 2025 Olympic Esports Games in Saudi Arabia.

The Federation’s organisation, robust leadership structure, and inclusion of young administrators align well with the dynamic nature of the sport.

The registration of 29 county associations and the Federation’s consistent activities over recent years demonstrate a clear commitment to developing
the sport given the popularity of video gaming among our youth, this provides a unique opportunity to channel their passion into healthy competition, especially with the IOC’s assurance that the selected
games will adhere to Olympic values.”

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) officially embraced esports as part of the Olympic family on 23 July 2024, following a unanimous decision during an IOC session.

The inaugural Olympic Esports Games is slated for 2025 in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, signifying a transformative era for the sport on the global stage.

Kenya Esports Federation President, Ronny Lusigi, expressed his gratitude, stating,

“The Olympic Esports Games is the best gift Esports could have asked for this recognition significantly boosts the profile and legitimacy of our emerging sport.We appreciate NOC-K for this recognition and believe we can collaboratively prepare Kenya for an excellent performance at the inaugural Olympic Esports Games.Additionally, we look forward to participating in other NOC-K programs that focus on athlete
empowerment and capacity building for administrators.”

In 2023, the IOC hosted the Olympic Esports Week, which included the Olympic Esports Week Forum.
the finals of the Olympic Esports Series and exhibition show matches.

These events served as a testbed to explore the integration of Esports within the Olympic framework and to foster discussions about its place in the new digital era.

This recognition represents a significant milestone as Esports’ inclusion in the Olympic Movement has
been a topic of intense debate.

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