The Olympics Gets Into Competitive E-Sports For The First Time In History
Image via IOC
It may still be a while before you’ll see e-sports become a full-fledged event at the Olympics, but the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has dipped its toes into the world of online sports with the first Olympic Virtual Series.
Kicking off May 13, the Olympic Virtual Series will feature five “non-physical virtual sports” participated by e-sports athletes from their own homes or training facilities. Racing game Gran Turismo, sailing race simulator Virtual Regatta, international rowing federation World Rowing, online cycling platform Zwift, and Konami’s baseball Powerful Pro Baseball 2020 will be part of the lineup.
Produced by DreamHack Sports Games, the Olympic Virtual Series will run till June 23 as a precursor to the Olympic Games in Tokyo. As per Auczar Plus, while the IOC believes Counter-Strike: Global Offensive and other similar e-sports games are “promoting violence” and hence “contradictory to the Olympic values,” the Olympic Virtual Series could be its way of approaching e-sports.
“The Olympic Virtual Series is a new, unique Olympic digital experience that aims to grow direct engagement with new audiences in the field of virtual sports,” said IOC President Thomas Bach.
“It encourages sports participating and promotes the Olympic values, with a special focus on youth.”
Fans will be able to follow the gaming events, as well as keep up to date about related information, on the Olympic Channel.
A man playing racing simulator ‘Gran Turismo’, one of the games to be featured in the virtual series. Image via ymgerman / Shutterstock.com
[via Auczar Plus and IOC, images via various sources]
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