It might be time for me to take gaming seriously … I want a gold medal!
We’re only days away from the official beginning of the 2024 Paris Olympics (it’s already kicked off if you’re watching soccer like me), but with that being said, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) is giving us a whole lot of preliminary hype by announcing that they have created the Olympic Esports Games.
During their 142nd session Tuesday, the IOC voted to launch the Esports Olympics, and on top of that, it came in unanimous approval. (RELATED: The Olympics Is Off To A Brilliant Start With A Drone Scandal, Coaches Getting Kicked Out And Staffers Being Detained)
The vote comes right after the IOC and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia announced a joint partnership where the nation will be the hosts of the inaugural tournament that takes place in 2025.
ESports is another venture that grows Saudi Arabia’s influence in the world of sports and entertainment. In the past few years, they’ve launched LIV Golf, hosted massive boxing matches that have featured superstars such as Tyson Fury and they also brought Cristiano Ronaldo — and other great players — to their country by making him the highest-paid soccer player in the world.
A HISTORIC VOTE!
The 142nd IOC Session votes for the creation of the Olympic Esports Games.
Mark the date 🥳 pic.twitter.com/CPRrwrirba
— IOC MEDIA (@iocmedia) July 23, 2024
I was sitting here watching the New Zealand-Guinea soccer game with my wife (she’s a Kiwi) …
GOOOAAALLL, NEW ZEALAND! Win it for my wife! 🇳🇿 pic.twitter.com/dRcvhCQC1C
— Andrew Powell (@AndrewPow3ll) July 24, 2024
Got that goal back! 2-1 New Zealand! https://t.co/Jy0BeKgNzj pic.twitter.com/HQT4ypL33k
— Andrew Powell (@AndrewPow3ll) July 24, 2024
And then we saw the news about Olympic Esports, and she instantly says, “You just need to be a gamer.”
She says this because of the amount of hype and money that surrounds Esports. I bet on it (it’s very profitable), so we’ve learned a lot along the way. Not only is it an individual thing, but it’s become a team thing as well, and now here we are seeing it in the Olympics. And, as I’ve already told you, you can gamble on it. It’s become a thoroughbred realm, an actual sport.
I might have to listen to wifey on this one.
