© Pexels/Yan Krukau
The debate has raged for years: can esports be considered a sport in its own right, to the point of being integrated into the Olympic Games? Today# 8217;today, the IOC (International Olympic Committee or International Olympic Committee in French) decided: yes, esports is indeed a sport, and the practice will even be entitled to its own dedicated competition from next year.
A historic decision
Only a few hours before the launch of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, a session was held in the same city allowing the committee to clarify the content of its future esports Olympic Games, the creation of which was finally unanimously approved. The first edition of these very special Games will be held in Saudi Arabia, starting next year.
The subsequent editions still remain uncertain: ” we will have to discuss how we will allocate the organization in the future, but it goes without saying that&# 8217;there are many countries around the world interested in hosting the event » was thus able to indicate David Lappartient, the president of the French national and Olympic sports committee.
© Unsplash/Sean Do
The time established between each esports Olympics remains to be determined. The committee working on the file indicates that it wants to hold the eSport Olympics every two years in odd-numbered years, i.e. between Summer and Winter Olympic Games.
And for the games?
The other important decision that the IOC will have to make is which games will benefit from their own competitions during the esports Olympics. We should thus find virtual sports like Zwift, this famous cycling simulation requiring pedaling on an exercise bike. But that's not all: more classic sports simulations like FIFA or NBA 2K should also be there.< /p>
© Unsplash/Florian Olivo
But the real question is: will the biggest games in the esports field currently be considered for such an event ? We are thinking in particular of League of Legends, Counter Strike 2, Valorant or Rocket League. One thing is certain: ignoring such a pool of interest would probably be a mistake, especially since national competitions for these games are rare.
Furthermore, the committee made a drastic choice about these games dedicated to esports: they should focus on inclusion , and especially on gender equality: “It took us 130 years to achieve gender equality in terms of participants in the Olympics, and we want gender equality from the start of these esports Olympics ,” concluded David Lappartient.
- The esports Olympics have been unanimously accepted by the International Olympic Committee
- The first edition will take place in 2025 in Saudi Arabia
- We don't know yet which games will compete in the tournament
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