YouTube peaked at just over 1,000 concurrent viewers during the unprecedented event today in the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games esports event. Now it’s video-on-demand, and after a few hours it hit 10,000 total views.
It includes live music and dance performances, as well as speeches by members of the Olympic Council, IOC and the President of the Republic of Singapore! The crowd was packed with suits and ties, and they were likely attending the Olympic Esports Forum — an invitation-only event full of industry presentations and idea-sharing. That’s what the Olympics are about, baby!
The opening ceremony was live-streamed on YouTube and the official Olympic website, kicking off a series of competitive events. On the one hand, you can enjoy Chess, Street Fighter 6, Gran Turismo and Fortnite – all games with real esports communities around the world. On the other hand, you have Just Dance and Zwift. Not exactly a buzzy esports game, but still popular. The rest of the games can be found in corners, and there isn’t much of an esports scene to speak of. Games like Tic Tac Bow and Virtual Taekwondo are developed by Refract Technologies, which holds leadership positions in national esports organizations (thanks Gamerbraves).
Ng Siming, board member of the Singapore National Olympic Council, said on stage, “Over the next few days, you will enjoy the thrilling finals of the ten virtual Olympic sports. You will watch the best athletes in the world thrill heart-warming live performances, gamers and [eachother]”
Miang continued: “Olympic Esports Week will showcase how technology and gamification can create new opportunities in sport. At the same time, highlight the potential of eSports and the sportification of gaming.”
IOC President Thomas Bach will address the crowd via a pre-recorded message. “The coming days will be a time to make history. Celebrating the best in virtual sports and esports. Players showcasing their excellence and passion for the sport. To all gamers, now is your time to shine”.
The final speaker, Her Excellency Halimah Yacob, will pull the digital lever to officially begin the event. Ahead of that, Jacobs will say: “We look forward to creating an unforgettable experience where the world will witness the coronation of the first Olympic esports finalist in ten sports and watch exciting action in five other sports. Exhibition match.”
So, if it wasn’t clear before, Olympic Games Esports Week is a real competition to see who is the best esports athlete in several games, it’s also a technology and business expo, technology, gaming and Interesting groups in sports can exchange and learn about the advantages of such cooperation in the future here.
But with seemingly low interest from online esports fans, how much legitimacy does the event actually have? The Olympics have a reputation for traditional sports, and maybe even virtual sports like virtual kickboxing, but would the best Fortnite pro in the world care about an Olympic esports medal? It seems unlikely at the moment.
But who knows, maybe it’s a test case. A way to attract interest and build momentum from non-gaming parties. Regardless, our eyes will be on how the competition progresses, even if not many others can say the same.