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| The Olympic rings are seen on the Eiffel Tower, in Paris, France |
Shot put and pole vault now rub shoulders at the Olympic Games with sport climbing and breaking, introduced at the Tokyo and Paris Games respectively. The International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) constant efforts to reconcile Olympic traditions with the recognition of contemporary forms of sport led it to take an even bolder decision this summer: the creation of the Olympic Esports Games.
This event, which is distinct from the traditional Olympic Games and will take place in Saudi Arabia from 2025 to 2037, opens the Olympic doors to a host of new competitive disciplines, most of which are still unknown to the public.
We are three experts in video game law, and we’d like to help you decipher the implications of this IOC decision.
Esports: a multi-faceted category
Esports can be described as “competitive video gaming where skill and professionalism is celebrated.” This practice includes a very wide variety of games such as MOBAs (multiplayer online battle arena) like League of Legends in which two teams of five players battle it out in a virtual arena; or first-person shooters like Valorant, CSGO, and Fortnite.
Esports also include the virtual practice of traditional sports such as basketball, hockey and soccer, with games like the FIFA franchise published by Electronic Arts.
Are esports sports in their own right?
Esports are not universally accepted. Some critics even go as far as to make the provocative argument that esports should not be labelled as sports. On the other hand, we would argue that esports are not activities based on the display of physical skills and abilities in the same way as traditional sports. Therefore, it is unnecessary to compare esports and traditional sports from the perspective of the level of physicality required for athletes practicing each respective discipline.
After all, not all traditional sports, especially among those recognized by the IOC, require comparable levels of physical commitment.
Shooting is a good example of this. Not to mention the fact that the IOC also recognizes other activities (although they are not included in the official program) which, in principle, do not involve a significant physical dimension. Just think of chess or, more surprisingly, bridge!
In fact, esports belong to that category of sports where strategy and dexterity dominate. However, this does not mean that no physical commitment is required. Adequate preparation and physical qualities are indeed necessary.
These days, a professional athlete and a professional esports player both dedicate countless hours to training or strategizing in order to be at the top of their game.
The history of esports at the Olympic Games
Esports first entered IOC-organized events through the back door, via showcases such as the one organized by the International eGames Committee in the British team pavilion at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Nevertheless, it wasn’t until the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang that the first electronic event displaying the Olympic emblem was organized: the Intel Esports Masters. At this event, players competed in the game Starcraft II.
by Thomas Burelli
