In a significant step towards mainstream recognition, eSports has been recently included in the “multisports event” category in India. This development follows amendments in the regulations that govern eSports, as initiated by the President of India. The President, leveraging the power granted under Article 77 (3) of the Constitution, requested that the Sports Ministry and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology include eSports in multi-sport events.
Conceptual Understanding of eSports
The realm of eSports or Electronic Sports represents a competitive platform where gamers use their physical and mental prowess to compete in various games. These games are conducted within a virtual, electronic environment. Some popular examples of such games are Counter Strike, League of Legends, Overwatch, Fortnite, and DOTA 2.
Global Recognition of eSports
The recent inclusion of eSports in the Indian multisports event category benefits from the fact that an increasing number of countries are recognising eSports as a sport. Nations like the United States, Finland, Germany, China, and South Africa were among the first few to acknowledge eSports. This recognition has since spread to other countries such as Russia, Italy, Denmark, Nepal and Ukraine, which officially recognised eSports in September 2020.
The Journey of eSports in Multi-disciplinary Events
There has been a growing demand for the incorporation of eSports in the curriculum of multi-discipline events, especially after it was introduced in the 2018 Jakarta Asian Games. This marked a significant milestone in legitimising eSports as a recognized sport. The International Olympic Committee (IOC), which is considered the apex body of sports, has also recognised eSports. This recognition extends to other major bodies like the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), Commonwealth Games etc.
eSports and the International Olympic Committee
The IOC’s recognition of eSports has led to several initiatives to bring eSports into the mainstream. The IOC organized the Virtual Olympic Series, an eSports tournament, ahead of the Tokyo Olympics 2020. Adding to the momentum, the IOC announced that Singapore will host the inaugural Olympic eSports Week in June, 2023.
India’s Achievement in eSports
The inclusion of eSports in major sporting events has had positive ramifications for Indian gamers as well. India received a bronze medal in the 2018 Asian Games, where eSports was included as a demonstration title. This achievement boosted the morale of eSports enthusiasts across the nation.
Nodal Ministry for eSports in India
The recent amendments have laid out the administrative framework for the regulation and development of eSports in India. The Department of Sports under the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports will be in-charge of e-Sports while ‘Online Gaming’ will fall under the purview of MEITY (Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology).
