The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has officially announced the establishment of the Olympic eSports Games, with Saudi Arabia set to host the inaugural event next year.
The ground-breaking move was unanimously approved by the 142nd IOC Session in Paris and is further proof of the growing influence of eSports across the globe.
Esports has become a cultural phenomenon, boasting a large fan base and a highly competitive scene that rivals conventional sports.
While the inaugural event will be held in Saudi Arabia, the impact of the milestone will travel far beyond the Middle East. The United Kingdom (UK) and Ireland are among the countries which will benefit significantly from Olympic recognition of eSports.
The move will attract investment, nurture talent and raise the bar of the eSports competition to unprecedented heights. Olympic recognition gives eSports mainstream credibility.
It will also have a significant impact on the betting industry in the UK and Ireland. In simple terms, more fans tuning in to watch the tournament means more bets placed on eSports events.
Considering the strong gambling culture in the region, popular Irish betting apps and platforms in the other nations will be inundated with wagering activity on the eSports Olympics.
Numerous other eSports tournaments have generated significant interest on betting sites, but Olympic recognition will be a game-changer.
IOC President Thomas Bach hailed the Olympic eSports initiative as the dawn of a new era and one which demonstrates their commitment to staying at the forefront of the digital revolution.
The IOC’s foray into eSports has accelerated rapidly. What began as merely testing the waters six years ago has become a full-blown Olympic eSports Games.
Last year’s Olympic eSports Week in Singapore was a crucial dress rehearsal that proved the initiative is on the right track by merging traditional sports values with digital technology.
The success of the event in Singapore laid the solid foundation on which
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