Mongolian Esports Association Joins MNOC, Gains State Funding

The Mongolian Esports Association has been admitted as a member organisation of the Mongolian National Olympic Committee, granting esports athletes access to state-funded programs, tax benefits and MNOC-backed support as Mongolia prepares for the Esports Nations Cup 2026 in Riyadh. The admission was backed by MNOC President and IOC member Battushig Batbold.

As a full MNOC member, MESA now holds the same institutional status as traditional sports federations. That status opens eligibility for state infrastructure, direct financial support and tax treatment available to other MNOC members. The membership also formalises MESA’s role as the official national partner for the Esports Nations Cup 2026.

The MNOC created a dedicated Esports Commission in late 2024 to support participation in IOC-recognized events. Mongolia won a silver medal in Dota 2 at the 2023 Asian Games. With full membership, MESA can pursue structured talent development programs and seek government-backed high-performance training centers in Ulaanbaatar.

Mongolian competitive results helped drive the change. In 2025 The Mongolz won the Esports World Cup in Counter-Strike 2 and reached third place in the HLTV world rankings. Those results attracted global sponsors and increased interest in Mongolian esports.

MESA’s announcement read: “The support of the MNOC will play an important role in the future development and progress of esports in our country, strengthening the connection between our athletes and the global Olympic movement.”

On the international front, the International Olympic Committee has reportedly scaled back its work on esports. Mongolian officials noted that MNOC membership will help the country prepare for multi-nation events such as the Esports Nations Cup while supporting domestic development.

With MNOC recognition in place, Mongolian esports organisations and players gain expanded access to state resources, formal development channels and official support as they build toward competition in Riyadh next year.