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In a groundbreaking move for the competitive world of gaming, esports is officially making its debut on the Asian Games’ roster this year.
Taking place in Hangzhou, China, the event will include seven popular esports titles, ranging from PC to mobile games, all vying for gold medals.
The inclusion signals a major step for esports, which joins other “mind games” like chess and bridge in the esteemed Asian competition.
More than 30 countries are fielding teams, but all eyes are on South Korea and host nation China, expected to be the powerhouses in one of the most anticipated spectacles of the two-week gathering.
This year’s esports menu covers a variety of genres, including multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) and single-player games.
The titles set for competition are League of Legends, Arena of Valor Asian Games Version (also known as Honor of Kings), Peace Elite Asian Games Version (also known as PUBG Mobile), Dota 2, Dream Three Kingdoms 2, Street Fighter V: Champion Edition, and EA Sports FC (also known as FIFA Online 4).
For South Korean players like Lee “Faker” Sanghyeok, widely considered the Greatest of All Time in League of Legends, a gold medal would have additional benefits, including exempting him from South Korea’s compulsory military service for men.
This isn’t esports’ first appearance at the Asian Games. It was a demonstration sport at the previous event held in Jakarta, Indonesia, and was met with overwhelming enthusiasm.
The success of the Asian Games will again catapult esports into the Olympics conversation, with many well-placed esports enthusiasts suggesting the four-yearly event needs professional video gaming more than esports needs the games.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has expressed interest in incorporating video and virtual sports to attract younger audiences, as seen with skateboarding and surfing in the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.
However, IOC president Thomas Bach stipulates that violent or discriminatory content is a deal-breaker.
“We have to draw a very clear red line in this respect,” he said.
This ban on any violence would seemingly rule many esports games out of being played at the Olympic Games, including first-person shooters and many multiplayer online battle arena titles.
