Why are the Olympic Esports Series games so strange? We asked the IOC

On March 1, the International Olympic Committee announced the first details of the Olympic Esports Series 2023, the next step in the venerable sporting body’s tentative move into the esports arena. The previous Olympic Virtual Series was held in conjunction with the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Beginning with qualification this month and culminating in live finals in Singapore in June, and open to both amateur and professional players, the Esports Series seems like a moderately serious bid by the Olympic movement to engage with competitive video gaming — as underlined by its shift in branding toward using the community’s favored term, “esports.”

One problem is… odd.

Here you won’t find the top esports. There are no esports. League of Legends• Counter-StrikeNo Fortnite, Overwatch, Street FighterYou can also call it: Rocket League. The majority of esports are not actually watched by people.

The nine games that were initially confirmed are, in a larger or smaller degree, simulations of actual-world games and sports. Gran Turismo is and Just Dance are the only two brands that instantly come to mind as video games. (Hang on… Just Dance!The preeminent website for chess, Chess.com and Zwift, an indoor cycling coach, are also represented. This list includes obscure simulators. Virtual Regatta (sailing), Virtual Taekwondo Take a chance. Tennis Clash (it’s a mobile game!), Konami’s WBSC eBaseball Power Pros Archery (that flies off the tongue) Tic Tac Bow(another game for mobile). What’s the deal?

I perused the list and wondered why the IOC didn’t meet esports lovers where they are: watching one of the most watched games in the world. It’s true that the heavily promoted, big-money world of pro esports leagues is anathema to the ideals of the Olympic movement — but that didn’t stop the IOC from embracing boxing, say, at the amateur end.

Two possible solutions to the odd list were what I came up with. I guessed at two possible answers for the odd list. One is that the IOC won’t want to endorse violent gaming, or the fantasy violence like. League. Two, it kept a close eye on the virtual analogs of real-world sport. But this still didn’t explain the presence of chess or motorsports — two pursuits that would never be included in the Olympics IRL — or the absence of legitimately big esports with a real-world basis, like FIFA. Then I sought clarification.

I received a detailed statement from the IOC, which confirmed most of my assumptions. Yes, the primary goal of the initiative is to promote the development of “virtual and simulated sports games.” And indeed, violence was a no-no that would have ruled out most popular esports — along with, interestingly, the gender split among players, and “technical barriers to entry” (which I read as games that can only be played competitively on high-end PCs, rather than mobiles or consoles). In the IOC’s words:

We are examining these suggestions to ensure that featured games of the Olympic Esports Series match the Olympic Values. It includes inclusion, including technical barriers that prevent entry and gender-splitting player bases. against the backdrop of the IOC’s mission which is to unite the world in peaceful competition.

In the context of the IOC’s comments, even the inclusion of Just Dance can be explained. The game’s broad demographic reach and ease of use — you don’t even need to be dextrous with a controller — must have been appealing from an inclusivity point of view. Nevertheless, Gran Turismo’s selection was left out of the discussion, with mobile and console games being the main focus. iRacing,It makes sense when you take into account the need for low technical barriers to entry.

Another wrinkle is the IOC’s decision to partner with international sports federations in selecting the games to work with — so, the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile suggested Gran Turismo to represent motorsport, the World Archery Federation suggested Tic Tac BowYou can continue on. The goal isn’t necessarily to select the most famous games — quite the opposite. The IOC states:

Olympic Games always had a varied programme. It also included sports that are not covered by other top-level competitions. To create a similar diverse programme for Olympic Esports Series 20,23 we have partnered internationally with International Federations, who then propose partnerships to game developers. While not currently included on the Olympic Programme, motorsports as well as chess have International Federations that are able to offer sponsorships.

If nothing else, the involvement of the sports federations explains why FIFA games aren’t representing soccer, given the breakdown of the relationship between football’s governing body and the games’ publisher, Electronic Arts.

The IOC says the lineup isn’t complete and it may yet add new games. “We have had interesting and encouraging conversations with wider [international federations] and game publishers, and expect additional titles to be added to the Olympic Esports Series line up in the coming weeks,” it says. The video series also features top FIFA players and other esports personalities.

As strange and out-of-touch as the Olympic Esports Series’ playlist may look to the average fan of competitive video games, the IOC has a cogent rationale for the choices and partnerships it has made. It is right that Olympic esports should look very different — and indeed, be a haven — from the grift and brazen commerce that surround the professional leagues. This leaves an enormous gap between the Olympic esports ideal and popular imagination.

Gran Turismo is now included in this list, as well as Chess.com. This is an important step forward. It would be great if the IOC was able to bypass FIFA altogether and bring about FIFA’s reforms. EA Sports FC on board — or allow nonviolent but fantastical sports like Rocket League to be included — that would make a huge difference to making its dream of a digital Olympic movement a reality.

What about some “stuff” in the interim? Nintendo SwitchSport bowling? My chances are good.