The inclusion of e-sports as a medal event at the upcoming Asian Games is seen as a significant milestone that could pave the way for Olympic recognition of competitive video gaming.
E-sports made its debut as a demonstration sport at the 2018 Asian Games, and this year, gold medals will be awarded in seven different games, including EA Sports FC, PUBG Mobile, Arena of Valor, Dota 2, League of Legends, Dream Three Kingdoms 2, and Street Fighter V. South Korea and China are expected to be the dominant forces in e-sports at the Games.
The China Hangzhou E-Sports Centre will host the events, marking a departure from the traditional image of gamers playing in arcades. Experts and gamers view this inclusion as a significant step toward e-sports being recognized as a legitimate sport.
While the International Olympic Committee officially recognized e-sports as a sport in 2017, there is currently no plan to include video games in the Olympic program. However, many believe that the growing popularity and competitiveness of e-sports could eventually lead to Olympic recognition.
Lokesh Suji, vice-president of the Asian Electronic Sports Federation, expressed optimism about e-sports’ future and its potential inclusion in the Olympics as a fully-fledged medal sport.
While South Korea and China are expected to dominate e-sports at the Asian Games, the global e-sports community sees this event as a stepping stone toward wider recognition, potentially even within the Olympic Games. The recognition of e-sports by the International Olympic Committee in 2017 was a significant first step, and now the focus is on making e-sports a fully-fledged medal sport in future Olympics.
The dream of seeing e-sports as an Olympic event might not be realized immediately, as there are various challenges and considerations involved in such a decision. However, the Asian Games’ inclusion of e-sports sends a clear message that competitive gaming is here to stay and deserves its place on the international sports stage. As e-sports continues to grow in popularity and competitiveness, its path to Olympic recognition becomes increasingly plausible.
