With the ever-increasing growth of competitive online gaming, the issue of official recognition has long been debated. While dozens of countries have recognised cyber sports as a regular sport, global competitions still do not include cyber sports in the list of official disciplines. During the Rio de Janeiro Games in 2016, the first so-called e-games took place outside the list of other sports disciplines.
Millions of players and interested parties are already looking for a cybersport addition to the Olympic Games. It's only a matter of time before the International Olympic Committee (IOC) adds cybersport disciplines. For crypto esports betting, this is the most discussed topic because global trends in cybersports depend on it plus so many people have been waiting for the opportunity to finally bet on sports thanks to cryptocurrency . In this article, we're going to talk a little bit about these opportunities for the Olympics and think about which games could attract attention.
Cybersport and IOC involvement
The cybersport sector is huge, currently boasting over 300 million fans worldwide. As these numbers grow steadily, cyber sport could soon become one of the most popular sports. A unique feature is the division into an extensive list of disciplines. In particular, cybersport as a whole is made up of dozens of FPS shooters, RTS games, MOBAs, fighting games and arcade games.
In 2018, the IOC held a joint conference with the Global Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF). Representatives from both sides discussed a platform for further interaction and cooperation. Despite the fact that cybersport games are unlikely to appear during the 2022 Olympic Games in China, such forums are productive for future work. The most significant criticism one often hears about cybersport is the lack of physical participation. A worthy counterargument is to think of air rifle competitions, which are still recognised by the IOC.
The recognition aspect
While forums and conferences are convenient, one important aspect is needed - recognition. Take chess, for example. The IOC has already recognised it as a sport, but not as an Olympic sport. So chess is unlikely to appear any time soon either. The problem with the best cybersport games is that they are not recognised as sports disciplines. Simply put, we are now two steps away from the Olympics.
For example, in 2020, the IOC refused to recognise the Global Cyber Sport Federation (GEF) as the governing body for cybersports in the Olympics. According to speculation, the GEF was ultimately denied because of its ties to the large Chinese company Tencent. While the rejection was a blow to the community, the existing collaborative ties are fairly reliable.
Likely games to emerge
Given that many disciplines are popular, the question of which ones are likely to emerge is problematic. While some experts consider sports and racing simulators to be good additions, others sympathise with games in the MOBA and FPS genres. According to credible analysts, the most notable games in the Olympics are:
Rocket League
PES or FIFA
Fortnite
League of Legends
Counter-Strike: a global offensive
Other disciplines such as Dota 2, Valorant or Apex Legends are expected to appear sooner or later. If you're interested in other titles that aren't on the list, remember that the governing body matters. Sooner or later, the IOC will appoint one of the leading organisations to include such disciplines. On that day we can proudly say that the Olympics will see eSports as a real sport, covered on TV and gathering millions of fans.
Possible dates
You see, eSports and the Olympics is the perfect symbiosis that millions of fans will be expecting one day. Are you interested in the exact date? That is a complicated question! Based on the existing cooperation, fans cannot expect the disciplines to appear before 2024 at the earliest. Hopefully, fans will enjoy betting on cyber sports as much as they do now by watching events on Twitch and YouTube. Because of the general ease of introducing the various titles, they will inevitably appear as part of the Olympics. Yay.
In a word.
In lieu of lengthy closing remarks, let's reiterate the most likely prediction about cybersports and the Olympics. The cybersport disciplines will indeed be recognised by the IOC, giving them official recognition. Although the 2024 Olympics is the most likely event for cybersport, it's difficult to give a definitive answer right now. If you, like us, are a fan of cybersport, let's hope the IOC does the right thing - recognising our disciplines soon. In the meantime, keep an eye out for all the major events and get involved!
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