A Web of Relationships and the Olympic Esports Series

The selection process for the 2023 Olympic Esports Series has faced scrutiny due to apparent conflicts of interest involving the Singapore-based developer Refract Technologies. Investigations reveal that two titles featured in the series, Virtual Taekwondo and Tic Tac Bow, were developed by Refract, a company with deep institutional ties to the Global Esports Federation (GEF) and the Singapore National Olympic Council. While the International Olympic Committee (IOC) maintains that it relies on international federations and local organizing committees to propose game partnerships, the overlapping leadership between these entities suggests a concentrated influence on the final selection of titles.

Key findings highlight that several Refract executives hold prominent positions within the GEF and the Singapore Esports Association. Furthermore, Chris Chan serves simultaneously as the president of the GEF and the secretary general of the Singapore National Olympic Council, the latter of which held decision-making authority regarding the event's game lineup. Although the GEF has formally denied direct involvement in the planning or operations of the Olympic Esports Series, the financial and professional entanglements between the developer, the GEF, and the local organizing committee indicate that these relationships played a significant role in the inclusion of specific games.

The IOC defends its selection process by emphasizing its partnership with international federations and its commitment to Olympic values, such as inclusivity and the avoidance of violent content. Despite these stated criteria, the evidence points to a system where local organizing committees and their affiliated partners exert substantial influence over the program. This situation underscores the complexities of governance and potential bias in the emerging integration of esports into the broader Olympic movement.