Is esports' only future being shut down? The International Olympic Committee announces the suspension of all related activities.

For any athlete, regardless of sport, the Olympics is a dream stage. Stepping onto the international stage and gaining global recognition, winning or losing becomes secondary. Its sporting spirit, its symbolism, and its history are irreplaceable. With the advancement of technology and the digitalization of sports, esports has emerged, developing rapidly and gaining global popularity. However, people still have reservations about esports being a mere label for sports. As time goes on, we are gradually seeing its potential, it is becoming more mainstream, audiences are beginning to accept it, and the market is huge, especially among young people. Major businesses, including traditional athletes, all want to get involved and get a piece of the pie.

The eSports Olympics have been postponed to 2027.

The eSports World Cup has been established, but what about the eSports Olympics? Sad news has emerged: the International Olympic Committee has announced the indefinite postponement of all related activities, from 2025 to 2027, and now Saudi Arabia has terminated its cooperation. At this point, as a member of the eSports community, I no longer know if eSports will ever be included in the Olympics and recognized as a sport.

Traditional sports fans used to joke that esports didn't require physical participation; you just controlled a cat and mouse and a keyboard to operate virtual characters. Aside from teamwork, strategic planning, and analysis, there was really nothing in common. How could a casual game develop into an international competition?

Commercialization is the only way out; many years ago, participants didn't have the resources to even attend the competition.

Through rounds of qualifying matches, competitions in internet cafes and regions, a team eventually emerged to reach the finals. The cruelest part was that the finals were just a ticket. At that time, the biggest consideration was not how to win the competition, but how to get to the destination. All the participants were ordinary people, without team support or sponsors to provide funding for their travel expenses. Even if they won the championship, the prize money might not be enough to cover the expenses of the journey.

The cost of participating in competitions is the biggest problem. Without commercialization, esports will not go far. Therefore, sponsors have become the only way out. Internet cafes sponsor teams, and the return is exposure and free training in the internet cafe. Occasionally, relatives and friends who do good deeds will support them with real money. Just from this past, you can imagine how much esports players want this sport to be truly sports-oriented.

Image source: Internet