The Indian government has given a significant boost to the esports industry by integrating it with mainstream sports in the country. President Droupadi Murmu has amended the rules governing esports and instructed the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology and the Sports Ministry to include it as part of multi-sport events.
This comes after a growing demand to include esports in multi-discipline events, particularly after its inclusion as a demonstration sport in the 2018 Jakarta Asian Games. With the President’s notification, the IT Ministry will act as the nodal agency for online gaming-related matters, and the sports ministry will be required to incorporate esports into its curriculum.
The International Olympic Association (IOC) is also actively promoting esports, with the inaugural Olympic Esports Week set to take place in Singapore in June 2024. This marks a significant step in the development and integration of virtual sports with the Olympic movement and a further engagement with competitive gamers.
Reacting to the news of its inclusion as a mainstream sport, Lokesh Suji, Director of the Esports Federation of India and Vice-President of the Asian Esports Federation, welcomed the announcement and said it would open new avenues for investment in the booming industry. He added that the industry would now need to focus on building proper infrastructure, training facilities, and coaching for young esports athletes.
Last Updated on January 29, 2023
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