For the first time in Olympic history Esports was part of the games. Well… kind of. Although Esports was not officially a part of the Olympics as far as medals and events go, the Tokyo games kicked off with the Olympic Virtual Series. Participants raced in virtual sailing and rowing on stationary machines while it was displayed on a big screen. Although the events were not official it is a huge step in the right direction for Esports development.
When Could We See Esports As A Medal Event?
If I had to guess, we could see Esports as a medal event as early as the next Summer Olympics in 2024 and possibly even the 2022 Winter Olympics. Esports already has their own international federation; the Olympic Committee just has not accepted it yet.
When people think of Esports they tend to think more of video games like League of Legends, CSGO, Madden, and many others. However, there is a wide variety of different activities that fall into the category of Esports and that was showcased in the opening event in Tokyo.
I am not saying we won’t see games like that in the Olympic games, but it is important to recognize the wide variety that Esports offers.
What Is Holding The Process Back?
The physical nature of Esports is what has been holding the process back for so long. In order for a sport to be recognized by the Olympic Committee it must require a physical aspect and be physically competitive.
Many people feel Esports meet this requirement, it is just a matter of the modernized opinions versus old school opinions which tend to lean towards Esports not meeting the physicality standards.
Esports has become extremely popular across the world and has attracted millions of viewers every time there is a big event. The Olympics has had a huge drop in viewers so far this year so I think adding a new event with such a huge following and large popularity across the entire world would be smart.
This is a sport that all countries can be extremely competitive in because the entire world has shown an interest.
I think it is only a matter of time before we see an official Esports event in the Olympic Games.
