11 December 2024 – Zeynep Gencaga Dechelotte has been appointed Esports Associate Director at the International Olympic Committee (IOC), taking up her role in November 2024. In this new position, she will lead the development of esports for the IOC, supporting and implementing the organisational strategy as set out by Olympic Agenda 2020+5. Gencaga Dechelotte will also oversee the review and planning of the Olympic Esports Games with internal and external partners.

Gencaga Dechelotte has more than 15 years of experience, mainly across the football, gaming and esports industries. She was a consultant for clubs on turnaround projects linked to stadiums after working at Galatasaray, and worked in esports from 2016 in media, education, partner management and product strategy prior to joining global esports publishers such as Riot Games and Ubisoft. She was part of Olympic Esports Week as one of the publisher partners and was appointed as a member of the first IOC Esports Commission.

Gencaga Dechelotte studied International Relations, before completing a FIFA Master – International Master (MA) in Management, Law and Humanities of Sport – in 2016.

“I am delighted to welcome Zeynep Gencaga Dechelotte to lead the IOC Esports Unit. She will champion all esports-related initiatives for the Olympic Movement in this new and exciting moment, with the upcoming Olympic Esports Games,” said IOC Director for Digital Engagement and Marketing Leandro Larrosa. “Her broad experience in sport, gaming and esports will be a great asset for the organisation and the Olympic Movement.”