The International Olympic Committee (IOC) will vote next month on the creation of a new Olympic Esports Games that IOC president Thomas Bach has said the Olympic body hopes will become the peak of achievement for gamers worldwide.

Bach said a new structure would be set up within the IOC, which would be separate from the organizational and financial model for the traditional Olympic Games. The IOC president also stated that a potential host is already being considered.

The governing body has been looking into Esports - and how it can engage with fans through that sector - for several years, with 2023’s Olympic Esports Series itself building on the IOC’s Olympic Virtual Series established in 2021, adding live, in-person finals for the first time.

Bach has now commented: "With the creation of Olympic Esports Games, the IOC is taking a major step forward and is keeping up with the pace of the digital revolution.

"We are very excited how enthusiastically the Esports community represented in our Esports Commission has engaged with this initiative. This is further proof of the attractivity of the Olympic brand and the values it stands for."

The proposal forms a part of the IOC's wider efforts to connect with a younger audience, with its traditional fan base aging.

Last month, the IOC announced the production of three new documentary series in collaboration with streaming giant Netflix.

This includes Simone Biles: Rising, a documentary focusing on the decorated US gymnast's highly anticipated return to the Olympics.