The inaugural Olympic Esports Games are coming in 2027, marking a significant step for competitive gaming. The Olympics have increasingly embraced esports through their Olympic Esports Series (OES), which was created after the Covid-19 pandemic.
The OES event was first introduced in Singapore in June 2023, and fans have been eagerly awaiting a follow-up. After last August’s IOC session, the Olympic organizers decided to replace the Series with the new Olympic Esports Games.
What To Expect From The New Olympic Esports Games
Not much has been confirmed about the Olympic Esports Games except that the event will first be introduced to the world in Saudia Arabia in 2027. The structure of the competitions is still unknown, but games like Rocket League, Street Fighter 6, and NBA 2K will likely be included.
Officials have confirmed that medals will not be awarded for the games; however, the top three teams will be awarded gold, silver, and bronze trophies. The Olympic Esports Games will occur every two years, and each hosting country will have a say in what games are played.
Esports World Cup
The Esports World Cup is the largest competitive gaming event in the world, and it takes place every July and August in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The event boasts the largest prize pool in the industry, with more than USD 62 million up for grabs. The 2024 Esports World Cup featured the following games:
- PUBG Battlegrounds
- Rocket League
- ESL
- Tekken8
- FC24
- Call of Duty Modern Warfare III
- StarCraft 2
- Fortnite
- Street Fighter 6
- Team Fight Tactics
- APEX Legends
- Rainbow 6 Siege
- DOTA 2
- League of Legends
- Overwatch2
- And more
More than 500 teams compete in the Esports World Cup annually. However, to reach the club championship, teams must finish in the top 8 in at least two competitions and in the top spot in at least one competition.
Will The Philippines Participate in The Olympic Esports Games?
A recent announcement from the Philippine Esports Organization (PESO) has confirmed that the national team will participate in the new Olympic competition and that the two-year delay is welcomed. In 2019, the Philippines launched the Nationals, the country’s first professional Esports league.
Betting on Esports
Since competitive gaming exploded into popularity in the 2010s, betting on Esports and sanctioned competitions has existed. Esports betting lines are similar to regular sports game lines regarding spread, win (money line), and total odds.
Popular online Esports sportsbooks offer odds on several international competitions that feature games such as Call of Duty, Counter-Strike 2, DOTA 2, King of Glory, Rocket League, and League of Legends.