The Paris 2024 Summer Olympics have come to an end, but the Olympic spirit continues to evolve. With a shortened Olympic cycle of three years, we are now just one year away from the debut of the Olympic Esports Games in 2025. This short interval challenges not only the athletes but also the sports management entities to prepare for this new era.
We are witnessing a shift in how sports are introduced into the Olympic movement. Traditionally, sports emerge, form leagues, national and international federations, and finally are incorporated into the Games. However, with the Olympic Esports Games, we see an inversion of this process, where the top of the sports pyramid is introducing new modalities.
When Baron Pierre de Coubertin conceived the Modern Olympic Games in 1896, many doubted its success, resisting the new. Today, this resistance repeats itself with the Olympic Esports Games, both from traditional sports and esports. In a recent discussion, an esports event organizer commented: "We don't need the Olympics!" and questioned whether athletes would participate just for a medal. This reflects the prevailing culture of monetary rewards in esports.
However, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) is not seeking to control esports but rather to create a new branch to attract Generation Z, just as it did with the creation of the Youth Olympic Games and the inclusion of sports like skateboarding and surfing. The IOC has already made it clear that international federations with electronic versions of their sports will be the first partners in the inclusion of these modalities in the Olympic Esports Games.
During the 2023 Olympic Esports Week in Singapore, we saw a test event with the participation of several international federations. Among the sports and approved software were:
Motorsport (FIA): Gran Turismo
Baseball (WBSC): WBSC eBaseball
Cycling (UCI): Zwift
Taekwondo (World Taekwondo): Virtual Taekwondo
Tennis (ITF): Tennis Clash (developed in Brazil)
Archery (World Archery): Tic Tac Bow
Shooting (ISSF): Fortnite
Sailing (World Sailing): Virtual Regatta
Chess (FIDE): Chess.com
It is not yet defined if these modalities will be the official ones, but some examples indicate the flexibility and adaptation we can expect. The UCI, for instance, after three years of using the Zwift platform, signed an agreement with MyWoosh for the virtual cycling world championships from 2024 to 2026.
As for PHYGITAL (physical + digital), I believe this concept goes against the complete virtualization of sports. In triathlon, for example, we have a hybrid scenario with swimming being performed in a pool, complemented by smart trainers and treadmills.
Regarding popular games like Counter-Strike, Call of Duty, Valorant, and League of Legends, the IOC has already signaled that games that go against the Olympic spirit, such as those involving war simulations, will not be included. However, adaptations are possible, as we saw with Fortnite, which transformed the game into a target shooting challenge.
And where does Brazil fit into this scenario? We are technically prepared to compete in 2025, but we still need better support structures for our athletes. With adequate support, we can achieve significant victories in sports like motorsport, sailing, taekwondo, table tennis, cycling, rowing, and triathlon if these modalities are confirmed.
To achieve this, we need to overcome prejudices and adopt the culture of monetary rewards in esports within the Brazilian Olympic movement.
Schubert Abreu
Idealizer of Brazilian Virtual Competitions
Level 2 Technical Official | World Triathlon
Ironman Finisher
Fan of Marvel, DC, and a Jedi apprentice
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