Gaming has transitioned from a recreational activity to an industry, a spectator activity, and for some people a way of life. From internet cafés and college dorms to sold-out venues and million-dollar tournaments, the rise of esports has led to more fans and professionals wondering: Will we see esports in the Olympics?

To get the answer, let’s break down everything from “what is esports” to “what games are in the esports World Cup” and if esports are even considered a sport.

What Is Esports?

Esports, short for electronic sports, is the competitive video gaming where players or teams play each other in organized matches that may be streamed and viewed by fans all over the world. These tournaments may be international events like the Esports World Cup, or local events like college-level esports leagues.

Frequently Asked Questions include:

• What does esports stand for? Electronic Sports.
• What is esports gaming? Professional or semi-professional competition in video games.
• What is an esport? A single video game that is played competitively (ie., Valorant, Dota 2).

Is Esports a Sport?

The million-dollar question remains: Are esports a sport?

Esports players might not be sprinters or swimmers, but they do exhibit:

• Hand-eye coordination
• Reaction times
• Decision-making
• Team coordination

If chess, shooting, and curling can make the Olympics, there is a strong case for competitive gaming as well. However, many still question: “Should esports be a sport?” My answer would be, there’s not much physical activity, but the level of mental stamina is phenomenal. So in some ways, esports are just as much a sport as any other.

Are Esports in the Olympics?

Not yet, at least not officially. That being said, esports have been featured around the Olympics:

• Previous Engagements: Olympic Virtual Series (2021): Included virtual baseball, rowing, and cycling.
• Olympic Esports Series (2023): Included Virtual Taekwondo, Chess.com, and Zwift.

These were not traditional esports titles, such as Call of Duty or League of Legends, which brought us to the question: “Why aren’t mainstream esports games included?”

• Most competition video games lack ownership, they’re owned by a private corporation.
• Many of them have violent features, which does not represent the Olympic values.
• There is no singular governing body that oversees all esports like FIFA represents football.

While we’re starting to see some early steps, the esports industry isn’t in the core Olympic Games yet.

What Games Are Popular in Esports?

If esports ever enters the Olympics, it’ll likely include non-violent yet skillful titles. So what games currently dominate the scene?

Top esports games:

• League of Legends
• Valorant
• Counter-Strike 2
• Fortnite
• Dota 2
• PUBG
• Rocket League
• Overwatch
• Rainbow Six Siege

For now, these titles remain the heart of esports, even if they’re not yet Olympic-eligible.

Should Esports Be in the Olympics?

Here is what is inhibiting it—and what could spur it on:

Pros:

• Worldwide Appeal: Games like PUBG and Mobile Legends! Have huge global audiences.
• Youth Appeal: Esports could obviously engage youth audiences for the Olympics.
• Infrastructure & Sponsorship: Esports has major sponsors, broadcast partners and arenas.

Cons:

• Violence: A big hang-up for Olympic organizers is allowing shooters like CS:GO or Call of Duty.
• Commercial Ownership: Esports games are owned by corporations, and are not imperial like other sports.
• No Standardization: Esports has no governing body recognized by all participants like athletics or swimming.

When is the World Cup of Esports?

The Esports World Cup is a colossal global event that occurs yearly in cities like Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (esports professionals can dispute whether it is ‘yearly’ or ‘annually’).

Games will include:

• League of Legends
• Dota 2
• Rainbow Six Siege
• Fortnite
• PUBG

It gets confused with an Olympic-type event – it is not an Olympic event in some sense as it is not governed by the IOC (International Olympic Committee). Regardless, this event is large enough to show esports is worthy of Olympic recognition in terms of audience.

How do you get involved in Esports?

If you want to be a player or are just curious, here’s how to become involved in the world of esports:

Get Involved in Collegiate Esports

Many of the colleges in the U.S. have some form of collegiate esports program. So, you want to get involved in collegiate esports? Start by:

• Looking for scholarship opportunities
• Participating in campus-level tournaments
• Building your game-specific rank (like Radiant in Valorant or Grandmaster in LoL)

Optimize Your Gaming Setup

Looking to get competitive? You need the right equipment. Here’s how to optimize your gaming laptop for esports:

• Upgrade to 16GB+ of RAM
• Use SSDs to load faster
• Make sure your display has a 144Hz+ refresh rate
• Ultimately play with a wired connection to eliminate lag

How Do Esports Teams Make Money?

Esports organizations make money by:

• Sponsorships (Red Bull, Logitech, etc.)
• Streaming and content generation
• tournament winnings
• Merchandising and branding

Even individuals can be making a 6-7 figure salary a year, and people now wonder: how much do esports players make? Top level pros like “Faker” (LoL) or “s1mple” (CS:GO) have made millions in prize money and endorsement deals.

Betting and Esports

Just like traditional sports, there is a betting side to esports. Want to know how to bet on esports or where to bet on esports?

• There are sites like Betway, or Draftkings or Stake(availability based on your region)
• Always make sure they are a legal site and licensed

Remember: betting can be risky, so approach it responsibly.

Is Esports Going to Get into the Olympics?

Esports keeps making strides toward the Olympics, but it is going to need:

• Standardization of games
• Non-violent games.
• More of a partnership with traditional sporting institutions

So will we see esports at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics or the 2032 Brisbane Olympics? Maybe, but I wouldn’t count on it.

Conclusion: A New Era of Competitive Sport?

Esports is not a small niche anymore; it is a global juggernaut. After millions of fans, full-time professional players, and billion-dollar revenues, the gaming world has compelled us to think differently about sport.

So while the Olympics may be slow to catch on, one thing is for sure: esports is already taking gold in the new hearts of a new generation.

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