ESports Takes Center Stage at Asian Games as a Medal Event
ESports, a form of competitive video gaming, is making a groundbreaking debut as a medal event in the Chinese city. This step is seen as a significant move towards potentially including eSports in the Olympics one day. Some of the world’s most renowned gamers, including South Korea’s Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok, are participating in the event.
Medals are up for grabs in seven popular gaming titles, including Arena of Valor, League of Legends, and EA Sports FC Online. The popularity of eSports is undeniable, with tickets being in such high demand that an initial online lottery was conducted to allocate them. Last week, tickets were made available for direct purchase.
The ticket prices for the eSports competition are quite steep, going up to 1,000 yuan ($137), making it one of the most expensive events to watch at the Asiad. Xu Kezhen, a 20-year-old fan, shared his experience of securing tickets, saying, “Getting tickets for this eSports competition was quite intense. I had to try five or six times before finally getting one. Everyone wants to come and support the Chinese team and their favorite players, so there is a rush to grab the tickets and show their support.”
Despite the hassle and expense, fans like Zhao Xiaohan were determined to be part of the historic event. Zhao signed up for all possible lotteries and eventually secured a prized ticket. “It felt like quite a challenge to secure the ticket, and luck played a role as well,” said Zhao, 23. Another spectator, Jiang Xinyou, expressed frustration at not being able to secure tickets for matches featuring the Chinese team.
Inside the 4,500-capacity arena, spectators waved lightsticks and cheered as virtual “heroes” battled it out on the screen, controlled by athletes rapidly swiping on their phone screens.
In an effort to prevent scalping, games organizers have required spectators to register their identification documents when buying tickets and show them upon entering the venue. The total number of tickets available for the eSports competition has not been disclosed by the organizers.
As eSports continues to gain traction and popularity worldwide, its inclusion as a medal event in the Asian Games marks a significant milestone for the competitive gaming industry.
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