Representatives of the Olympic Movement met last week in Lausanne, Switzerland at the Olympic Summit to discuss the future. Among areas of discussion was the development of esports and where it might fit into the Olympic picture.
There were four main takeaways from the summit, the first being recognition of the strength of esports within the youth demographic. Many believe this could play a major role in creating interest among millennials toward the Olympic movement.
It was recognized that esports “could be considered as a sporting activity,” as athletes train with intensity comparable to those in other sports. Also, the committee resolved that competition must not infringe upon “Olympic values” and that an organization must be constructed to guarantee compliance with Olympic rules involving anti-doping and betting.
The IOC isn’t the only major sporting organization seriously discussing esports. On multiple occasions, the NCAA Board of Governors have discussed the current esports landscape including its success.
In April 2017, the University of Utah became the first Power Five school to offer a varsity esports program. Successful instances like Utah have led the NCAA further down a path towards taking esports seriously.
During the board’s meeting last week, all in attendance, including the Board of Directors and Division II & III Presidents Councils, watched an informational presentation on the landscape of esports within the NCAA.
“NCAA members continue discussions to better understand the NCAA’s potential role, if any, in the esports realm,” read an NCAA release.