内容编辑Introduction
The 18th Asian Games held in Indonesia in 2018 made history as the first time esports was of
Introduction
The 18th Asian Games held in Indonesia in 2018 made history as the first time esports was officially included as a medal event. This saw professional gamers from 18 countries compete in six games, namely Arena of Valor, Clash Royale, Hearthstone, League of Legends, Pro Evolution Soccer and StarCraft II. With the success of esports in the Asian Games, it was no surprise that the 2019 Southeast Asian Games in the Philippines would also include esports as a medal event. The question now is, what does this mean for the future of esports in international sporting events?
The Rise of Esports
Esports has come a long way since the first video game competition was held at Stanford University in 1972. Today, esports is one of the fastest-growing industries in the world, with estimated revenues of $1.1bn in 2020, and it is predicted to continue growing at a rate of 15%-20% per year. The industry has been growing so fast that it is projected to overtake traditional sports in terms of viewership and sponsorship in the next decade. Vietnam, Thailand, and the Philippines alone have a combined 35 million esports fans. This is equivalent to 20% of the region's online population and 7% of its total population.
The Benefits of Esports in Sporting Events
Including esports in major multi-sport events brings several benefits to both esports and traditional sports. Traditional sports can leverage esports to help attract a younger audience and boost fan engagement, as well as tap into esports' lucrative sponsorship opportunities. For esports, inclusion in sporting events provides an opportunity to gain mainstream recognition and legitimization as a sport. It also provides exposure to a global audience, which is essential for esports' continued growth.
The Challenges of Esports in Sporting Events
The inclusion of esports in multi-sport events also presents several challenges. One of the main issues is the regulatory structure of esports. Unlike traditional sports, which have established governing bodies that regulate all aspects of the sport, esports is fragmented and lacks a unified international body. This fragmentation has led to different rulesets, event formats, and even games being played in different regions. This makes it challenging for esports to be included in multi-sport events as each sport has its own set of rules and conditions.
Conclusion
The inclusion of esports in international sporting events marks a significant milestone in the esports industry's growth and legitimization. However, there are still many challenges that need to be addressed before esports can be fully integrated into multi-sport events. As the industry continues to grow and mature, we can expect to see the emergence of an international regulatory body that will help standardize esports rules and procedures. With esports projected to overtake traditional sports in the next decade, including esports in sporting events is a step in the right direction for the continued growth and success of both industries.