Why Esports Should Not Be In The Olympics?

The International Olympic Committee is considering adding esports to the 2024 Olympics. However, there are several reasons why esports should not be included in the Olympics. This blog will explore those reasons and explain why the IOC should not add esports to the Olympics.

The games are too new

Some believe that esports are too new to be added to the Olympics. After all, the first recorded esports event occurred in 1972, with The Intergalactic SpacewarOlympics. The first major international competition didn’t occur until 1980, with the Atari Space Invaders Championship.

With a history that is only a few decades long, some feel that esports aren’t time-tested enough to be included in such a historic event like the Olympics. The International Olympic Committee has only been adding new events to the games every few years, and they tend to focus on sports that have centuries of tradition behind them.

The games are too violent

While many traditional sports are quite violent, they pale in comparison to some of the most popular esports. Games like League of Legends and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive feature constant fighting and bloodshed, with very little relief or downtime between battles. It’s hard to imagine the International Olympic Committee being okay with games like these being featured on their stage.

The games are not universal

Many people argue that esports should not be in the Olympics because the games are not universal. Unlike traditional sports like basketball or football, esports are not played in every country. In fact, most countries do not have any professional teams or leagues. This means that there would be a very limited pool of athletes to choose from if esports were to be included in the Olympics. Furthermore, many of the most popular esports games are not played in countries that are traditionally considered to be Olympic powerhouses. For example, neither the United States nor China fielded a team in the Overwatch World Cup, one of the most popular esports competitions. This lack of universality would make it very difficult for esports to be included in the Olympics.

The games are not a true test of athleticism

The games are not a true test of athleticism

The International Olympic Committee has said that to be considered for inclusion in the Olympics, a sport must be “widely practised by men in at least 75 countries and on four continents”. It must also be “ performers must display physical prowess and be subject to international rules”.

While esports may meet the first criteria, it fails miserably on the second. The majority of esports require little to no physical prowess, with players sitting for hours on end in front of computer screens. In contrast, nearly all other Olympic sports demand peak physical fitness from its athletes.

Take 100m sprinting as an example. To win an Olympic gold medal, an athlete must have near-perfect technique, split-second reflexes, and explosive power – things that cannot be replicated by even the best esport athletes. The same can be said for other physically demanding sports such as boxing, wrestling, and gymnastics.

In other words, the Olympics are meant to showcase the very best athletes in the world competing in a fair test of skill and fitness. Introducing esports into the fold would cheapen the Games as a whole.