The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has announced the eSports Series for 2023. This tournament will cover many different online games and live final matches will be held in Singapore from 22-25 June.
Games to be featured in the tournament series include the dance game Just Dance, the online motorsport racing game Gran Turismo 7, and the virtual bike game Zwift. While these games are the big names in the group, games like virtual taekwondo and tennis that are more traditional to the Olympic spirit are also on the list.
“The Olympic eSports Series 2023 marks another step in supporting the development of virtual sports,” the IOC says. “Collaboration with the gaming and eSports communities will open up new opportunities for gamers and fans.”
The addition of eSports to the Olympic games could be an exciting and encouraging step for competitive gaming, but the relevance of the games offered will be a matter of debate. When it comes to esports, the first games that come to mind are competitive FPS games like Overwatch 2 and CSGO, Tekken and Super Smash Bros. There are competitive fighting games like Ultimate or RTS games like Age of Empires and StarCraft. It’s not quite right to say that games like online archery or online tennis are the first to come to mind.
The dance game Just Dance can similarly raise a question mark. The only difference between this and regular competitive dance is that a screen is involved in the competition, as the opponents in this game are doing physically strenuous activities. Therefore, the e-Sports status of this and similar games can create a separate discussion.
Among all the options available, Gran Turismo 7 is seen as one of the rare games that fully deserves its place on the eSports list. This fast-paced racing game brings its own identity to the Olympic games, where motorsport is not a venue, while demonstrating the skill and intensity required for online play.
But it’s too late to discuss the list of games. Competitive games like Overwatch, CSGO, League of Legends, Starcraft and many more now have their own tournaments that coincide with the Olympics and are very profitable. That’s why the IOC’s list of games to choose from is much smaller than desired.
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