When the Olympics began in 1896, few could have envisioned that one day the event may evolve beyond human physical endeavor. But now that question is being raised, and there’s a strong possibility that competitive gaming could one day be included in the Olympic lineup.
The esports craze has boomed over the last decade, and it’s only set to get bigger and better. With the industry getting more attention and respect, it’s going nowhere. The question is whether it can elevate itself to be regarded among the top sports on the world stage.
Esports – A Global Phenomenon
The esports industry was almost unheard of at the turn of 2010. Over the last 15 years, it’s grown into a global behemoth, and the market is worth $1.8 billion in 2025. There are countless games that go under the banner of esports, but the industry is clearly led by the main ones. These include League of Legends, Counter-Strike, and Dota 2, and there are massive audiences for all of these offerings.
Because the games are selling out stadiums and generating huge prize pools, the industry is attracting a lot of interest from major companies. There have already been some huge deals, with the likes of Porsche and Intel getting into the sector with sponsorship agreements.
Platforms like Netflix will help bring esports to wider audiences over the next few years, and this will help the global phenomenon gather even more pace.
The world’s biggest sportsbooks have started taking esports seriously too, highlighting how they regard them in the same realm as traditional sports. You can now find esports sportsbook odds on all the main games, along with the likes of Valorant, Call of Duty, and Rainbow Six.
What Would It Take for Esports to Enter the Olympics?
Due to the meteoric rise of esports, it’s easy to imagine that they will one day earn an inclusion at the Olympics. However, there are a few things that need to happen first. For example, there isn’t a universal governing body for esports yet, such as FIFA for soccer. This needs to come into play first as it will bring about standardization and anti-cheating measures, ensuring everyone is on an even playing field.
It may also come down to choosing one or two esports for people to take part in, rather than the broad range of titles that exist today. As the Olympics appeals to a wide demographic, it may be best to avoid the violent shooter games and opt for digital versions of real world sports. For instance, EA Sports FC could be an excellent option. There’s also the World Esports Table Tennis Championships, which have highlighted the potential of bringing this digital version of the competition to the Olympics.
It seems like there’s a strong possibility that esports could soon make their way into the Olympics. However, it’s likely that the violent offerings that currently rule the roost will be ignored in favor of digital sport adaptations. This will spell a new era for competitive gaming, helping it to reach greater heights than ever before.
