Image Credit: IOC

The International Olympic Committee voted this week to create the very first Olympic Esports Games, paving the way for video games and esports competitons alike to come to greater prominence on the global stage. Endorsed unanimously at the 142nd IOC Session in Paris, the Olympic Esports Games will be partnering with the National Olympic Committee of Saudi Arabia to organize the games. Saudi Arabia will be the organizing partner for the first 12 years of the Olympic Esports Games, as part of its overall drive to increase its presence in the games industry.

Esports has a controversial presence in the world of sports as a whole, as many continue to debate whether or not esports competitions count as sports. Nevertheless, interest in esports has grown significantly over the past decade, attracting prize pools in the millions of dollars and completely filled-out stadiums, to boot. The gaming industry itself has also grown rapidly, having quickly outpaced both the music and film industries combined in total revenue, and is expected to continue to grow as countries invest in their own game development incubators.

AVIXA staff face down a collegiate esports team in Rocket League

The production of esports competitions presents interesting opportunities and challenges. Because matches are hosted in a digital medium, production teams have greater flexibility in how various aspects of the match are broadcasted, from key moments of gameplay to teammates communicating with one another. This, however, is not without its downsides; as an example, players need to maintain absolute focus to keep track of in-game cues. Things like being able to hear footsteps, relaying commands between team members, and perception of their digital environment are all affected by external stimuli, like crowd noise or stage lighting. Solutions to improve this experience, both for players and viewers, are always improving.

For some esports enthusiasts, the audiovisual aspect of the competition is also a key and enticing part of the experience. InfoComm 2024 featured an expanded presence for esports, highlighting the potential pathway for players at every level of education to get involved, learning the nuances and skills needed to break into the world of pro AV. As esports comes to prominence with the massive global presence of the Olympics, we can hope to see a production value that matches the iconic hallmarks of an event like the traditional Olympic games.