If the Olympic Esports Series happens and no one is around to watch it, does it really happen?
Can we assume the unobserved world functions the same as the observed world?
Does observation affect outcome?
Is the eLympics only worth getting mad about if a real eSportsian hears it?
Salvé Ringo! Alright Landlord.
Credit: Plebs, ITV, great show
I’ve seen plenty a-bubblin, a-moanin, a-hatin, on the latest Olympic esports bonanza, for which I have previously ranked what I’ll be watching and in what order.
Please note: I will likely forget and thus not watch any of them, but I will actually still make a conscious effort to watch Just Dance because trust me when I say, that shit’s magical on stage. Couple it with an audience bopping away like the rabble at your Mum’s crazy mate’s third hen-do in Hull (over 50s) and oof, now that’s a title.
I put a tentative argument forward that who actually gives a flying hoot about what the Olympics do, especially if this is in an event in isolation of the Olympics and being hosted completely by itself.
Anyone that comes at me with an argument about non-endemic sponsorship and advertising spend on a crock of shit with no views operating under the name ‘esports’ in 2023 can simply take said crock of shit and engulf it, for you’re only making yourself look stupid.
If your main worry is the Virtual Regatta damaging esports rep and taking non-endemic dime, then I think your ship’s going to sink a damn-sight faster than my eVirtual eBoat, son.
James Fudge has surmised the shitshow that is the eLympics eSeries of eNations and their tenuous links to Singapore Game Week, the Global Esports Federation and whatever in an article here.
It’s not neat, not pretty, not anything. But it’s not really an attack on esports more than it is some weird malpractice on something that no one really gives a shit about anyway.
I recommend wholeheartedly reading James’ article, reading this odd cash-grab and having your own thoughts - but the links back to esports as a whole are quite tedious anyway.
The Virtual Olympics Series in 2021 saw 45,000 eSailors take on the world just before the delayed Tokyo Olympics (2020 moved to 2021).
There were five events:
Baseball
Cycling (Zwift)
Sailing
Motor Sport
Sailing
Of the above, Sailing has been removed, Tennis, Taekwondo, Just Dance, Archery and Chess have been added. It basically concluded just as the actual Olympics started.
Other than Mr Fitch, a reliable call-to-bullshit (who has me blocked for his own foul-mouthed reasons), most others just “announced” it and then, forgot about it. This was as the Olympics actually went on.
Here’s Olympic gold medallist (from when I was growing up) Jonny Edwards competing on Zwift in the Virtual Series, hosted by Gabby Logan, on the Olympic Virtual Series. I see nothing wrong.
It has 4.2k views (see below).
Watch more about eSailing here:
Quite interesting really. There’s thousands that take part, maybe 100 that watch, and this is making ‘esports’ or watching ‘video games’ to whoever you want to talk about, accessible to anyone.
Also, credit to Serge who just knows:
I bloody bet the IOC regret changing Virtual to Esports. Last year was so tranquil. This year they’ve got a gang of angry gatekeepers screaming about what you can and can’t call a ‘competitive video game’ and claiming it’ll damage ‘their industry’.
Give it a rest. If you’re actually worried about the Virtual Regatta stealing your sponsorship dime you’re not worth a single bloody penny of it.
Let boring traditional sports digitalise, and become more accessible.
You argue that these aren’t accessible, but unless Daddy can buy me a boat on my private lake then I can’t compete in sailing nor even dream of it. Unless video games can make it accessible and the ‘Virtual’ series gives me chance of glory.
You didn’t give a shit when it was the ‘Virtual Series’ because they didn’t use the “e” word so just leave them be for their little series in other titles you don’t think are great.
You didn’t watch it, you won’t watch it, but yap yap yap let’s be angry on Twitter.
PS I agree that the financial shambles is just not acceptable, but think it’s fairly on brand with not only sports governing bodies but esports too.
After all, we all know the GESF is legit as they come
