The Government of India has taken a significant step in boosting Esports by integrating it with mainstream sports disciplines in the country.
In a notification issued on December 23, Droupadi Murmu, the President of India, utilized the powers granted by clause (3) of article 77 of the Constitution to amend the rules governing Esports. The President instructed the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and the Sports Ministry to include “e-Sports as part of multi-sports events.”
This move comes in response to the growing demand for Esports to be included in multi-discipline events, particularly after its inclusion as a demonstration sport in the 2018 Jakarta Asian Games. Previously, medals won in Esports were not counted in the official overall medals tally.
The President’s notification designates the IT Ministry as the nodal agency for online gaming-related matters, while the sports ministry is tasked with incorporating Esports into its curriculum. This development is a significant boost for Esports enthusiasts in India.
The International Olympic Association (IOC) is also taking steps to promote e-Sports, having confirmed that Singapore will host the inaugural Olympic Esports Week in June next year.
This represents a major milestone in the integration of virtual sports with the Olympic movement and in engaging with competitive gamers.
In November of this year, the IOC announced that the Olympic Esports Week would showcase the best of virtual sports, including hybrid physical and simulated sports. The four-day festival, taking place from June 22 to 25, will feature exhibitions of the latest technologies, panel discussions, education sessions, and show matches.
The inclusion of Esports as a mainline sport marks an important milestone in the IOC’s efforts to support the growth of virtual sports within the Olympic Movement, as stated by IOC President Thomas Bach last month.
The Indian DOTA 2 team made their mark by clinching bronze at the first Commonwealth Esports Championship held in Birmingham in August, defeating New Zealand.
Esports will make its debut at the Asian Games in Hangzhou, China next year.
In response to the announcement of Esports’ inclusion as a mainline sport, Lokesh Suji, director of the Esports Federation of India and vice-president of the Asian Esports Federation, expressed his satisfaction and highlighted the efforts made to differentiate Esports from iGaming. Suji welcomed the government’s announcement, emphasizing the potential for increased investment opportunities in this thriving industry.
“Moving forward, we need to focus on building proper infrastructure, training facilities, and coaching for our young esports athletes. It won’t be long before we see Esports rise to the same level as cricket, football, basketball, and other sports, gaining comparable fan power, scale, and enthusiasm,” said Suji.
Denial of responsibility! SamacharCentrl is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
Basant Kasayap is an entertainment aficionado who delves into the glitz and glamour of the entertainment industry. From Hollywood to Bollywood to regional cinema, she offers readers an insider’s perspective on the world of movies, music, and pop culture.
