When will esports become an Olympic sport?
Esports has long ceased to be just entertainment — it is a multibillion-dollar industry with a huge audience and serious competitions. The question of including esports in the Olympic Games program has been discussed for several years now, sparking active debates among both video game enthusiasts and supporters of traditional sports. But when will esports become an Olympic sport? Let’s delve into how the process of integration is progressing and what obstacles stand in the way.
### History of the Issue: How Did It All Begin?
The question of [including esports in the Olympics](https://ebookie.bet/kibersport-stanet-olimpijskoj-disciplinoj-a-v-shkolah-budut-igrat-v-lazertag/) first arose in 2017 when the International Olympic Committee (IOC) stated that esports could be considered «sporting activity.» This comment was a significant milestone in the industry’s development as it opened the doors to more serious discussions about including video games in the Olympic Games. It is important to note that at that time, the focus was only on recognizing video games as a potential sport, not immediate inclusion in the competition program.
In 2018, a demonstration esports tournament was held as part of the Asian Games in Jakarta. This was a crucial step towards recognizing esports on the global sports stage. It was planned to include esports in the Asian Games program as a full-fledged discipline in 2022, which did happen, cementing esports’ status in official competitions at the continental level.
### Challenges on the Path to the Olympics
Despite significant achievements, the process of including esports in the Olympic Games faces several challenges. One of the main issues is the diversity of games. In traditional sports, there are clearly defined disciplines that remain almost unchanged for many years. In esports, games can quickly become obsolete, and each new game needs to be considered as a separate discipline. This creates difficulties in selecting which games should be featured at the Olympics.
Additionally, esports include both team games (such as [Dota 2](https://ebookie.bet/kak-popast-v-kibersport-dota-2-2/) and [League of Legends](https://ebookie.bet/kak-popast-v-kibersport-league-of-legends/)) and individual disciplines (such as StarCraft or [FIFA](https://ebookie.bet/kak-popast-v-kibersport-po-fifa/)), adding complexity to the classification and competition structure.
Another crucial aspect is violence in some games. The IOC stated that it is not prepared to support games that include elements of cruelty and violence, posing a significant barrier for many popular esports disciplines like Counter-Strike or Call of Duty.
### IOC Support and Future Perspectives
Despite the mentioned problems, the IOC continues to show interest in esports. In 2021, the [Olympic Virtual Series](https://ebookie.bet/kogda-priznali-kibersport/) was launched — this was the first step by the IOC towards integrating virtual sports into the Olympic movement. The project included competitions in games like Virtual Regatta, eBaseball, and Gran Turismo, and was positively received by both the esports community and traditional sports organizations.
This experiment showed that the IOC is ready for further steps towards integrating esports into the Olympics, but only if the games align with Olympic values. In this regard, virtual simulations of real sports, such as football and racing games, can serve as a bridge between traditional sports and esports.
### When Can We Expect Esports at the Olympics?
The exact timeline for including esports in the Olympic Games program is currently unknown. However, considering the rapid development of the industry and the increasing support from the IOC, esports could become part of the Olympics within the next 10-15 years. It is important to note that before this event, significant work will be required to standardize and adapt games to the requirements of the Olympic movement.
There is also a possibility that esports will start its Olympic journey in a demonstration format, as was the case with other new sports like skateboarding and surfing. Demonstration events would allow esports to build its audience at the Olympics and prove that it deserves to be part of the Olympic legacy.
Esports has already carved out its place in the world of sports, but the path to the Olympics will take time and effort. Challenges in choosing disciplines, content requirements of games, and the need to harmonize with Olympic values all need to be addressed. Nevertheless, esports continues to rapidly evolve, and its inclusion in the Olympic Games is only a matter of time. Regardless, esports has already made its mark in history and will continue to do so, whether at the Olympics or beyond.