By john 
Esports is no longer the outsider of global sports. In 2025, competitive gaming has achieved near-mainstream status — filling stadiums, attracting OTPKLIK billion-dollar sponsorships, and now lobbying for inclusion in the Olympic Games.
The Esports World Cup 2025 in Riyadh drew over 120 million online viewers, rivaling major sporting events like the Super Bowl. Titles such as Valorant, League of Legends, and Counter-Strike 2 now command international audiences, with professional players achieving celebrity status across continents.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has taken notice. After hosting the Olympic Esports Week in Singapore and a follow-up showcase in Los Angeles, discussions around official inclusion have intensified. The challenge, however, remains complex. The IOC traditionally promotes physical competition and public-domain sports, while esports are proprietary, controlled by corporations like Riot Games and Valve.
Still, progress is visible. The IOC’s newly formed “Digital Athletics Commission” is developing standardized rules for esports doping control, player health, and data transparency. If successful, experts predict an exhibition event at the 2032 Brisbane Olympics — a symbolic milestone for the industry.
Beyond the Olympic debate, esports continues to professionalize. Universities now offer scholarships, and countries like South Korea, Saudi Arabia, and China grant athlete visas to pro players. Revenue has surpassed $2.3 billion globally in 2025, with Asia leading the market.
Critics worry that commercialization could erode the spirit of competition. Yet for millions of fans, esports represents the evolution of sport itself — one built on reflex, precision, and digital mastery rather than muscle. As one IOC advisor put it, “If chess is a sport, then esports is the next generation of it.”
The stage is set. The world is watching. And whether or not esports enters the Olympics in 2032, it has already earned a permanent place in global sporting culture.