eSports shift the focus of Australian sports passion

At the Intel Extreme Masters, which will take place in Sydney from 4 to 6 May, 16 international teams will fight for $ 310,000 for three days at Sydney Olympic Park. Instead of physically struggling to win on a field, players virtually compete in a first-person shooter video game titled Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, displayed on a giant screen.

Whether you're a player or not, you've probably heard of eSports - because these video game battles attract masses. The Australian eSports fan base has more than doubled in the last two years and the overwhelming majority (66%) of these fans are between 18 and 34 years old and mostly male.
This population was always well represented in traditional physical sport, but has recently become a game of chance. This is a sign of how Australia's passion for sport is changing. And even female gamers become professional.
Compared to the same time 10 years ago, media and sports organizations participate with fewer participants in important traditional sports rules.

The rise of eSports

The eSports madness began in 1972 at Stanford University's Artificial Intelligence Laboratory when it became known as the Intergalactic Spacewar Olympics.
The field has evolved significantly over the past 46 years. From a small tournament to monochrome spaceships and mines displayed as simple motion graphics on a screen, eSports has become a billion dollar entertainment industry.
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The global eSports economy grew by more than 38% compared to the previous year. And the audience is not only growing for fans of hardcore video games, but also for occasional viewers - especially in the Asia-Pacific region.
The rise of online multiplayer games and video streaming services such as YouTube and Twitch is rapidly changing the landscape of media consumption. By 2020, the value of the eSports industry is estimated at $ 1.4 billion.

Are eSports a legitimate sport?

The audience of eSporting tournaments has already surpassed that of traditional sports broadcasts. This is a significant market opportunity for broadcasters such as ESPN and Disney as well as for game publishers such as Activision Blizzard.
Even traditional sports clubs are buying into the eSports market. Clubs that now own eSports teams come from international Major League Soccer, the American NFL and our own AFL.

The legitimacy of eSports has steadily increased as groups such as the Australian eSports Association formed in 2013 with the aim of officially recognizing eSports from the Australian Sports Commission. In December 2017, the Esports Games Association Australia launched to legitimize eSports in Australia and New Zealand.
Worldwide there is a movement from 48 nations through the International eSport Association and others to establish international competitions and rules around eSports, with the aim of seeing eSports as part of the Olympics.

In addition to these groups, major leagues have formed around the world, including the ESL Gaming League, the largest in the world. Australia has recently landed its first high-performance eSports center in the home of one of the country's best-known sports venues, the Sydney Cricket Ground.

How do you get into eSports?

If a viewer or a player is new to eSports, the easiest first step is to start reading or find a stream and start watching. The Australian Esports League - a provider of eSports competitions in Australia - has its own twitch channel. For worldwide content, visit the ESL Gaming League Twitch Channel.
If your kids are a professional eSport, you can watch the programs of Australian sports camps that focus on eSports. You never know, you or your child could be the next Marcus Gomes!

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