A tense atmosphere, crowded auditorium, athletes in deep concentration, and yell of jubilation; it almost sounds like the Olympic Games. It isn’t, however, much to the chagrin of traditionalists within sport. These are sights, sounds and emotions of e-sports: a grouping of digital contests played out in the virtual realm. The newest innovation at multi-sport games.
It wasn’t too long ago that triathlon and bmx cycling were considered “new wave” innovations within sport. Today, they almost seem too tame to be included amongst the newest crop of sports to be included in multi-sport games. The acrobatics of freestyle snowboarding, flow of tube surfing and explosiveness of sport climbing lean further into the realm of imagination than running, cycling, swimming, and simple jumps. Nonetheless, these sports face their own newer, more innovative challenger in the form of esports.
Humanity has come a long way since the days of analogue and arcade gaming. There is now technology that simulates motorsport, adds a new frontier to cycling, and allows people to play football on a virtual pitch by driving remote controlled cars in a digital arena. Technology that has long existed outside the mainstream sporting culture is now being incorporated into major events.
Esports competitions will be held in conjunction with the European Games and Central American and Caribbean Games this month. They are not held as part of the official sports program, but rather as a side attraction or exhibitionary flourish. Still, the competitions are a very real demonstration of esports, and the blurring line between physical and virtual reality in mainstream sporting culture.
Both exhibitions will be organized by the Global Esports Federation (GEF). One of two major federations vying for international legitimacy and governance over esports. GEF has sought to bring esports to major sporting events, such as the Commonwealth Games, European Games, Pan American Games and Central American and Caribbean Games.
The integration of esports as exhibition events at major multi-sport games certainly breathes a new dynamic into the notoriously traditional niche that finds itself chasing a fleeting audience.
Younger generation
Hasan Arat, Chair of the EOC Coordination Commission for the European Games 2023, explained the inclusion of an esports exhibition at the European Games this year, stating, “Esports is hugely popular worldwide, especially among the younger generation, and as the European Games continues to look for ways to innovate and attract a younger audience, this is a significant step.”
Centro Caribe Sports President Luis Mejía Oviedo echoed his comments earlier this year. “This is an incredibly exciting time for Central America and the Caribbean. Esports provides dynamic access for the youth of our region to the international esports and gaming community, which has seen a meteoric rise in recent times. We are excited to work alongside the Global Esports Federation to develop and activate esports at the 2023 Central American and Caribbean Games, and beyond.”
It’s clear what international sports leadership is looking for with esports, but what’s in it for the digital competitions themselves? In short, the inclusion of esport exhibitions at major multi-sport games provides players and digital competitions legitimacy and exposure that might otherwise be difficult to get within the mainstream sporting culture.
Speaking ahead of the Commonwealth Esports Championships last year, GEF CEO Paul Foster said, “we had the ambition to create credibility and legitimacy…and we are creating a safe, healthy and inclusive esports ecosystem to inspire young people and to make them feel like they belong. I think if you do all that, you set a good foundation and the future is limitless. We are just getting started, every day provides a ton of opportunities, and the best is yet to come.”
Asian Games
Esports has already begun to make its way from exhibition showpiece to official competition at some multi-sport games. A collection of esport competitions were featured as demonstration events at the 2018 Asian Games. Soon, esports will be fully integrated into the sports program of the delayed 2022 Asian Games due to take place in Hangzhou, China later this year.
Whether or not this will be a one-off novelty remains to be seen. However, as the International Olympic Committee stages their first ever Olympic Esports Week, it certainly seems like esports will be more than just a short lived fad at international multi-sport games.
At present, the bigger questions surrounding esports are what qualifies an activity as sport, how much violence is acceptable in virtual competitions and can organizations ensure fairness at competitions. If answered suitably, esports might one day find themselves on equal footing with traditional sports at multi-sport competitions. For now, exhibitionary intrigue will have to suffice.