Interactive AI experiences have engaged esports fans in France during the just-concluded Paris 2024 Olympic Games, while the confirmation of the first Olympic Esports Games scheduled for 2025 in Saudi Arabia has also whipped up more excitement for this fast-growing sector.
Recognizing the growing popularity of esports, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has become involved in establishing the new Games after esports were included as a medal event at last year's Hangzhou Asian Games.
Last month, the IOC announced it has partnered with the National Olympic Committee (NOC) of Saudi Arabia to host the inaugural Olympic Esports Games in 2025, with the proposal being unanimously endorsed by the IOC executive board.
As the 2024 Summer Olympics has come to an end in Paris, esports enthusiasts are already looking forward to their own version of the Games next year which will show off the passion of youngsters from around the world.
With virtual reality technologies being applied to many sports, the dream of holding an esports Olympics will finally come true and help this particular field become more accepted as a mainstream sport.
Alibaba, one of China's leading enterprises, has shown the public how some Olympic sports, such as boxing, could be played in a digital manner, while still retaining a highly-competitive physical element.
"I think that esports itself, especially contemporary esports, has its own fanbase and its own interests from the general public, and that remains as such. But for sports, and virtual sports in particular, what the relationship with esports is that it is using the format of computer games to introduce itself and widen its base of supporters and also people and fans, to allow them to experience the sport and also to continuously engage them," said Ng Chong Geng, founder of Refract Technologies, a Singapore-based firm focused on enhancing gaming and entertainment experiences through virtual reality.
Appealing to younger fans has been a priority for many international sports organizations. In 2020, the traditional Olympic Games added surfing, skateboarding and sport climbing, while breaking made its debut at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Many believe Esports could be seen as a new platform to stimulate greater participation among young people as the audience for traditional sports ages.
"There is a lot of excitement around the potential inclusion of esports. But then right now, we're taking it one step at a time, right? So the Olympic Esports Games is a representation of that. It is important that we figure out what are the right games to include. There must be some physical elements to it and then you have to really exercise to compete in these sports. So VR boxing and VR taekwondo is a representation of that," said Josh Ye, head of global communications for VSPO, Asia's biggest esports operator.
Interactive AI experiences excite esports fans in Paris
