Olympic Esports Games: The Future of Competitive Gaming

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has confirmed its plans to create an Olympic Esports Games as it aims to attract younger audiences. However, the IOC has been hesitant about including esports in the Olympics due to its perceived violent nature, which contradicts the core values of the organization. To address this, the IOC launched the Olympic Virtual Series in 2021, which was a pilot venture in esports. Later in 2023, the IOC renamed this initiative as the Olympic Esports Series.

The first Olympic Esports Series was held earlier this year, featuring 10 games, including mostly indie mobile games and a toned-down version of Fortnite that only had target practice. Despite the backlash, the IOC is moving forward with esports and aims to create a proper Olympic Esports Games.

The IOC's decision to include esports in the Olympics has been met with mixed reactions. Some argue that esports is not a traditional sport and does not belong in the Olympics, while others believe that it is a way to attract a younger audience and keep up with the times.

To ensure that the Olympic Esports Games align with the core values of the IOC, the organization plans to focus on non-violent games. This approach is in line with the IOC's mission to promote peace and non-violence through sports. The IOC is also exploring ways to ensure that the Olympic Esports Games are accessible to everyone, regardless of their background or location.

In conclusion, the IOC's decision to create an Olympic Esports Games is a bold move that aims to attract a younger audience to the Olympics. While there are concerns about the violent nature of esports, the IOC is committed to staying true to its core values and promoting non-violent games.

What to Expect from the Olympic Esports Games?

During the 141st IOC Session, IOC President Thomas Bach revealed that he has asked the new IOC Esports Commission to study the creation of the Olympic Esports Games. Bach noted that more than three billion people worldwide are playing esports and games, with over 500 million interested in esports, with the majority of them under 34 years old. However, it is important to note that Bach did not suggest including esports in the Summer or Winter Olympic Games. Instead, the IOC is considering creating a separate Olympic Esports Games, which could happen every four years, similarly to the Summer or Winter Olympics. It is still unclear what games or esports will be included in the competition, but it is expected to draw a significant amount of attention from fans and players alike.

Top Esports Titles Will Likely Not Be Included

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has announced its plans to create an Olympic Esports Games, but it is unlikely that the top esports titles will be included. The IOC requires a sporting federation to tie up with a game publisher to make an esports title, which means that traditional sporting federations for different sports can tie up with virtual sporting video games to include in the Olympics. However, this leaves out popular esports titles such as Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB), League of Legends, and Call of Duty.

Fortnite was included in the Olympic Esports Series 2023, but the game was modified to fit within the guidelines of the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF). Instead of shooting each other, players could only practice target shooting to achieve victory. The IOC's stance on violent games is a significant hindrance to the inclusion of popular esports titles.

IOC President Thomas Bach stated that the organization's values are and remain the red line that they will not cross. He added that the IOC's crystal-clear position is gaining more and more respect in the esports community. As the IOC sets its sights on the future of sports engagement, the goal for a dedicated Olympic Esports Games is to bring together the ever-expanding gaming community with the age-old traditions of the Olympic movement. However, only time will tell how the Olympic Esports Games will evolve.

In conclusion, the top esports titles are unlikely to be included in the Olympic Esports Games due to the IOC's guidelines and values. While the inclusion of esports in the Olympics is a step towards the future of sports engagement, it remains to be seen how the IOC will navigate the inclusion of esports titles that do not fit within their guidelines.