5 Possible Games That Should Be Added To Olympic Esports Games
The International Olympic Committee announced on Monday that five sports, including squash, baseball-softball, and lacrosse, will be part of the 2028 Los Angeles Games.
Following their recommendation by the IOC executive board on Friday and their proposal by Los Angeles officials one week prior, the slate of sports successfully cleared the last hurdle to full membership in the Olympic body during a conference held in Mumbai, India.
With two “no” votes from the roughly ninety IOC members present, all five were approved as a single package.
Casey Wasserman, the chairman of the Los Angeles organizing committee, told the IOC members, “We want L.A. 2028 to have the same springboard effect for our five sports.” “In L.A. we are dreamers and doers”
Cricket’s World Cup is being hosted by India, and the IOC is gathering in one of the sport’s hotspots, which is also the location of the decision to award cricket its first Olympic status since 1900.
India’s IOC broadcasting rights are likely to increase in value by over $100 million with the addition of cricket to the Olympic program. Six teams each competing in the condensed and exciting Twenty20 format ought to be present in the Olympic competitions for men and women.
In a statement, International Cricket Council chairman Greg Barclay remarked, “The innings has just begun and we can’t wait to see where this incredible journey leads.”
Flag football and baseball-softball allow NFL and MLB players to participate in the Olympics in five years.
Full-contact football was a demonstration sport at the 1932 Summer Olympics, which were held in Los Angeles for the first time.
The NFL’s commissioner, Roger Goodell, issued a statement stating, “The NFL is committed to working together to strengthen flag football’s place in the Olympic movement long term.”
The Atlanta Falcons have been instrumental in establishing flag football at the community level. Over the previous five years, the organization has given grants to 144 schools to help with the cost of supplies, officials, transportation, and coaching wages, among other things.
Regarding the IOC’s decision, Falcons owner Arthur Blank stated, “I think it’s great for the NFL, great for men’s flag football, great for women’s flag football.” “I think it’s great for the sport.”
Lacrosse was acclaimed as the first game played by Native Americans on the American continent. Though not since 1908, the sport has been competed in twice in the Olympics. Lacrosse will be played in Los Angeles in a six-a-side style.
Squash is set to make its Olympic debut following the failure of multiple previous applications.
Breakdancing was out of the question; it will not return after making its Olympic debut in Paris the following year.
IOC members were reminded of the value of team sports in American culture and the need to forge closer ties with professional leagues and tours.
Concerns were raised by two African members, William Blick of Uganda and Tidjane Thiam of the Ivory Coast, over the lack of widespread participation in the sports that were added on Monday.
L.A. sports director Niccolò Campriani informed them that flag football is “the future and the tip of the spear for American football’s international growth.”
Officials in Los Angeles were urged to guarantee that athletes with any passport or nationality will be permitted entry into the country for the Summer Games, regarding immigration to the United States.
Speaking about discussions with federal and state authorities, Wasserman stated, “That is our commitment.” “We are proud of our ability to make sure that our country is accessible to every athlete on earth.”
Opening the Los Angeles presentation, Wasserman directly addressed Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the Israel-Hamas war in language that pushed the limits of the IOC’s preferred stance of political neutrality.
“Show what is possible when we understand each other and our differences, and embrace those challenges of the times with respect and dignity,” he said in reference to the Olympics. When the games are held in Los Angeles in2028, we hope to embrace, honor, and celebrate every athlete and everyone on the planet.”
The first member of the IOC to retort, Pakistan’s Syed Shahid Ali, chastised Wasserman, stating that “the political content tended to overshadow the sports part” of the Los Angeles presentation.
Guy Drut, a French athlete who participated in the 1972 Munich Olympics and witnessed the murder of eleven Israeli athletes and coaches as a result of an attack by Palestinian gunmen on the athletes’ village, however, backed Wasserman. Drut bemoaned what she called the “loss of our brothers from Israel.”
Weightlifting and modern pentathlon will continue to be Olympic sports, according to a separate decision by IOC members. A modern pentathlon substitutes obstacle course racing for the horse jumping component, while weightlifting has been under fire due to doping concerns.
Although it is currently without a regulatory organization recognized by the IOC, boxing has been guaranteed a spot on the Los Angeles program.
Meanwhile, here are 5 possible games that should be added to Olympic Esports Games:
1. League of Legends (LoL)
Riot Games is the developer and publisher of League of Legends (LoL), a multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) game. In League of Legends, opposing teams of five players fight to demolish each other’s nexus, a structure inside their base. The champion, a strong character with special skills, is controlled by the players. With millions of fans tuning in to watch professional matches, League of Legends is one of the most popular esports games worldwide.
2. Dota 2
Developer and publisher Valve is the one behind the MOBA game Dota 2. The objective of Dota 2 is for two teams of five players to destroy the Ancient, a structure situated in the enemy team’s base. A strong character with special skills is controlled by the players. Professional Dota 2 battles attract millions of viewers, making it another hugely successful esport.
3. Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO)
Valve is the developer and publisher of the first-person shooter (FPS) game CS:GO. Two teams battle in various objective-based game types in Counter-Strike Global Offensive (CS:GO), such as disarming bombs and saving hostages. With distinct weaponry and skills, players take control of either a terrorist or a counter-terrorist. In addition to being a hugely successful esport, CS:GO is one of the most played first-person shooter games worldwide.
4. Valorant
Riot Games created and distributed the tactical first-person shooter game Valorant. Two teams of five players engage in a range of objective-based game modes in Valorant, including escorting a payload and planting and defusing spikes. Gamers take control of an agent, a strong character with special skills. Despite being a relatively new game, Valorant has grown to become one of the most well-liked esports titles worldwide quite quickly.
5. Rocket League
Psyonix developed and released Rocket League, a soccer game played on a vehicle. Two teams of two players battle in Rocket League by crashing their rocket-powered cars into an enormous ball in order to score goals. In addition to being a very well-liked esport, Rocket League is a very fast-paced and thrilling game.
