Esports as a Potential Olympic Sport: Is It Inevitable?

In 2019, there were an impressive 197 million esports fans worldwide. By 2024, that number exceeded 287 million. Something about the sport has broad appeal, causing rapid year-over-year growth. The sport has even garnered the attention of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), with an official proposal for the Olympic Esports Games made just ahead of the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.

Several arguments favoring the proposal have been made, and they are difficult to discount. Esports require skill and strategy to excel and offer global appeal, youth engagement, tech integration, and new competitive opportunities.

Global Appeal

With viewers across Asia Pacific, Europe, and North America, esports garners views worldwide. It’s only natural to assume that fans who turn to major esports events like the League of Legends World Championship and the Fortnite World Cup Finals will also settle in to watch the Olympic Esports Games. The global popularity of esports seems well-suited to the international spirit of the Olympic Games.

Youth Engagement

As the Olympics tested the waters of esports with its Olympic Esports Series, a trend was found in viewership: three-quarters of esports viewers were between 18 and 34. Following the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics, it was also revealed that Gen Z (those between 13 and 28 in 2025) are the most invested in the Olympic Games, engaging with them the most throughout the games. The addition of a sport that aligns with younger demographics alongside the age group’s more active engagement is set to help the Olympics grow and prosper in the long run, capturing a new audience that will grow with the organization.

Tech Integration

Accepting esports into the Olympics shows that the organization is keeping pace with the modern world and staying relevant. Esports also presents exciting new broadcasting and interactive abilities for the Olympics, which will help the organization engage audiences in novel ways and capture fresh audiences.

Competitive Opportunities

Friendly competition is a key value of the Olympics, and esports presents new opportunities to add to the selection of competitive opportunities available. For esports, this new competitive space will also further support the sport’s growth, bringing it to the attention of new audiences and giving it more credibility as a professional activity.

Skill and Strategy

Becoming a top esports player requires dedication and training like any other Olympic sport. Players must work their way up through leaderboards and competitions to set themselves apart from other players. They must also join a team to play with other skilled players and learn from them. Esports players must also specialize in a game.

Challenges and Criticisms of Esports Joining the Olympics

The growing popularity of esports raises questions about its legitimacy as an Olympic sport. Just as fans and critics debated the inclusion of breakdancing in the 2024 Summer Olympics, many question whether competitive gaming can stand alongside traditional sports like track and field. This shift in attitudes mirrors the evolution of other online industries. For instance, just as players can explore resources like guides on how to find good Alberta online casinos to navigate the best platforms, esports enthusiasts often rely on reviews and rankings to choose the most reputable tournaments and games to follow.

Recognition by the Olympics would undoubtedly provide reputable esports events for enthusiasts to follow, but that doesn’t mean esports is without hurdles. It would still need to win over the general public as an acceptable Olympic sport, and concerns relating to the definition of “sport,” gender equality, regulations, and how video games will be showcased to align with Olympic values stand out as significant barriers.

The Definition of “Sport”

If you look up the word “sport,” you’ll see that it includes physical activity or physical exertion, something esports does not typically include. This is perhaps the biggest reason people challenge the notion of esports joining the Olympics. It’s hard to justify a sport that does not require physical capabilities. However, those who feel strongly about esports inclusion justify the technique and level of skill needed to become a competitive player.

Gender Equality

While the International Olympic Committee has prioritized games with a minimal gender split, the esports industry, in general, has not had many female competitors, even in sporting events open to all genders. Some have voiced concerns that this may mean official Olympic events won’t be as gender-inclusive as they could be, though official statements from the IOC have emphasized that this won’t be a problem.

Regulations

The wide array of games, developers, and the lack of formality around regulations have raised concerns about how the Olympics will regulate and govern the sport and its players for official games. Many wonder how the committee will decide which games to include and how they will approach regulations for them.

Olympic Values

The IOC has carefully selected games to include in its esports events hosted so far, but these have faced much criticism from major players in the esports industry. In an early Olympic Series event, the IOC chose games where players don’t profit or benefit from the game and ones with fewer barriers to entry. They aimed to select games aligned with Olympic values, which unfortunately do not align with many top games in the esports arena that are considered too violent to be aligned with the Olympic spirit of bringing people together for peaceful competition. This leads to challenges in how well the Olympic Esports Games will represent the industry.

Esports as an Olympic Sport Is Inevitable

The International Olympic Committee has decided that the benefits of creating the Olympic Esports Games outweigh the challenges and criticisms it has faced. The first Olympic Esports Games are scheduled to debut in 2025 in Saudi Arabia, meaning they are not just a topic for discussion but are now inevitable. All that’s left to do is watch and see how these new Olympic Games will unfold. No doubt, many of us will eagerly await the opening ceremonies.