The recent inclusion of esports in regional Olympic-governed games has gamers asking the question: when will esports be a medal event at the Olympics?
No longer demonstration games, eight esports will make their debut at the upcoming Asian Games as medal events in Hangzhou, China in 2022.
The eight medal events are FIFA (made by EA SPORTS), an Asian Games version of PUBG Mobile and Arena of Valor, Dota 2, League of Legends, Dream Three Kingdoms 2, HearthStone and Street Fighter V.
Each event will offer gold, silver, and bronze medals making a total of 24 medals for esports for the Asian Games 2022, the Olympic Council of Asia announced.
Meanwhile, Robot Masters and VR Sports will be played as demonstration events.
The Asian Games first introduced esports as demonstration games in 2018.
In 2019, esports made its debut as a medal event at SEA Games held in the Philippines.
The recent inclusion of esports in regional Olympic-governed games has gamers asking the question: when will esports be a medal event at the Olympics?
Before Tokyo 2020, the International Olympic Committee organized the Olympic Virtual Series with esports games oriented around the “traditional” sports competitions.
Games such as eBaseball Powerful Pro Baseball 2020, Zwift for cycling, Gran Turismo for car racing, and Virtual Regatta for sailing were launched ahead of the Tokyo Olympic Games.
While IOC remains mum about the possibility of esports in the Olympics, gamers see their small efforts as important first steps into the future.
Tags: #sportscompetitions, #esports, #AsianGames2022