ESports, once mocked as “not a real sport,” is now facing skepticism from competitive gamers themselves when it comes to an esports event organized by the Olympics. The choice of games for the inaugural Olympics Esports Week in Singapore has puzzled longtime supporters of high-stakes digital competitions that are gradually gaining recognition at an elite level.
Instead of established gaming titles, the event will showcase 10 simulated sports including archery, baseball, chess, and taekwondo. This selection of virtual sports, which are digital recreations of real-world events, has left enthusiasts concerned as it deviates from the essence of esports, which involves elite competitive video gaming.
Over the past decade, esports has experienced a boom with popular games like Counter-Strike and DOTA 2. It has become ingrained in pop culture and social media, attracting massive crowds to tournaments and garnering millions of online spectators.
Matthew Woods, representing esports marketing agency AFK, expressed disappointment over the choice of games for the Olympics Esports Week, stating that none of the selected games are considered true esports titles within the industry. Malaysian professional esports coach Khairul Azman Mohamad Sharif shared this sentiment, finding the list of games baffling and questioning why they were given precedence over top esports games.
The inclusion of Fortnite in the shooting event is seen as a small consolation, although the game will not feature its Battle Royale mode due to the International Olympic Council’s adherence to Olympic values, which restricts the inclusion of titles with excessive violence.
Esports was officially recognized as a sport by the IOC in 2017, and discussions have been ongoing with industry players regarding its inclusion in the Olympics. The IOC has recently been more open to new sports, such as skateboarding in the Tokyo Games and breakdancing in Paris 2024. Esports will also be featured as a medal sport for the first time at the upcoming Asian Games in Hangzhou.
Chester King, Vice President of the Global Esports Federation and CEO of British Esports, described the list of games for the Singapore event as a sensible first step towards eventually including popular video games in the Olympic lineup. He emphasized the importance of gaining acceptance from all stakeholders within the IOC.
Bryan Tan, a partner at law firm Reed Smith specializing in esports and media, viewed the event in Singapore as a testing ground to address the complexities associated with bringing esports to the Olympic level.
Kit McConnell, the IOC’s sports director, explained that the selection of virtual and simulated sports games for the competition was intended to support the growth of these genres. The chosen games had to be inclusive, have no technical barriers to entry, and promote gender equality, which is often lacking in competitive gaming.
If popular video game titles do make it to the Olympic level, with top players representing them, the Games could attract millions of new viewers. However, one major obstacle will be navigating relationships with game publishers, who hold significant influence over hosting events.
While there are currently no concrete plans for esports to become medal events at the Olympics, the reception of the Singapore event will be closely observed. The altered format of the games will play a significant role in determining the response, according to Matthew Woods.
Overall, the inclusion of esports in the Olympics is a topic of great interest, and the Singapore event will shed light on its potential future in the prestigious international sports competition.
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Eugen Boglaru is an AI aficionado covering the fascinating and rapidly advancing field of Artificial Intelligence. From machine learning breakthroughs to ethical considerations, Eugen provides readers with a deep dive into the world of AI, demystifying complex concepts and exploring the transformative impact of intelligent technologies.
