Video games were first created to bring a new way of entertainment to people through technology, providing an experience unlike any other. However, as the 21st century rolls in and new technological advances are being made, videogames have turned to the competitive scene. It has now reached a point to where it can possibly be called a “sport”, associating with an organization that holds these gaming events known as esports. Just recently, the International Olympic Committee opened a possibility for esports to join in future Olympics.

The Olympic governing body said esports, ”can provide a platform for engagement with the Olympic movement.” However, to be included the content, “must not infringe on the olympic values.”

It is not likely for esports to be included in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, but the 2024 Olympics in Paris seems to be a more likely target.

In 2006, Ted Owen, founder of one of the Global Gaming League, began to talk to with the Chinese government to introduce video games as a demonstration sport in the 2008 Summer Games in Beijing. Although the request was denied, a seed was planted. The rising popularity in competitive gaming has officials giving the idea major consideration.

The International Olympic Committee are interested in the youth because they are the ones who view and compete in these video gaming competitions. Although it is difficult to call video gaming a sport due to lack of physical movement and exertion, the International Olympic Committee were interested to see how the youth are involved with esports. They were quite surprised to see the amount of training and intense hours of practice comparable to athletes of traditional sports.

As the growth of viewership in esports rapidly rises and the viewership of the olympics is decreasing, the International Olympic Committee are wanting to get the youth more involved who have grown up around these video games.

Esports hold big money events with multi-million dollar prize pools and even bigger viewership numbers which are expect to reach a global audience of about 385.5 million this year. Which makes esports even more valuable.

The president of the International Olympic Committee, Thomas Bach, makes it clear that the Olympics want nothing to do with violent video games.

“We want to promote non-discrimination, non-violence, and peace among people. This doesn’t match with video games, which are about violence, explosions and killing. And there we have to draw a clear line.”

This may create some problems for esports because most of the popular games are all about violence. However, deciding whether to include esports in the 2024 Games in Paris will not be made until  the year 2020.