Photo: SOPA Images
Is esport a sport ? Impossible to answer this question with a simple dissertation. The debate is also going around in circles and forcing it to be posed and imposed, it arouses frustration in many people. Therefore, the two worlds continue to develop on their own, observing each other and giving each other small, timid handshakes from time to time. The original question is ultimately not that important, for the moment at least and the absence of a clear answer does not prevent joint initiatives from hatching.
The latest initiative is worth the detour. The IOC (International Olympic Committee) has indeed announced the creation of the first “sports olympics“. The nuance of the quotation marks is important, given that this is a much lighter version of the real Olympic Games (summer and winter). To be completely honest, we welcome this competition with some restraint.
An Olympic sports week
This initiative “marks the next important step in supporting the development of virtual sports within the Olympic Movement and in engaging competitive gamers“. The language is chastened and a bit bent around the bush, but we clearly understand that the notions of virtual sports and gamers are doubly addressed to us, as a young person and as an esports fan. Olympic Esports Week will take place in Singapore from June 22 to 25, 2023. The choice of location is not innocent, Asia having a huge lead on the question: esports disciplines are integrated into Asian Games and medalists as a bonus.
We learn that many public authorities and organizations are involved in this first edition, which is intended to be historic: Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth, Sport Singapore and the National Olympic Committee of Singapore (CNOS). There is also talk of a first final live esports Olympic Series. It’s hard to know what’s behind the “live“…Will the competition be simulcast all over the world on television? Is it a question of the audience? Is it because the competitors will all be there? Many questions, but few answers. In any case, it is a project that seems more ambitious than the Olympics. 2021 Virtual Serieswhich had been loosely incorporated into the Tokyo Olympics.
Beware of disappointment: no T1 esports
But before you get carried away, however, it should be pointed out that there is a bit of deception about the merchandise. We talk about esports, but it is not intended that esports say T1 be integrated into this famous Olympic week… There should be no League of Legends, CS:GO, DotA 2, Valorant, R6 or even Smash on the program.
The goal is to highlight virtual sports “hybrid, physical and simulated“. It’s not very clear, but you have to bet on sports games instead (FIFA, NB2K, PGA Tour, Switch Sports…). For hardcore esports fans, it’s bound to be a little disappointing It will be necessary to be satisfied, at best, with Rocket League or of racing game. It’s up to you to see the glass of water half empty or half full.
esports
After reading the latest “esport” article from BFM, we are so excited that we could relaunch the French wind power sector without any problem. After a while, you have to know how to say stop and stop making a buzz behind you. After Marianne and BFM, who will be next?