Indian government gives official recognition to Esports

Government of India on Tuesday gave Esports a major boost by integrating it with mainline sports disciplines in country.

President of India, Droupi Murmu, in exercise of powers "conferred by clause (3) of article 77 of Constitution" amended rules governing Esports and asked Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology and Sports Ministry to include "e-Sports as part of multi-sports events".

re h been a growing demand for Esports to be included in curriculum of multi-discipline events after it was included in 2018 Jakarta Asian Games as a demonstration sport, meaning medals won in sport were not counted in official overall medals tally.

But following President's notification, issued on December 23, that IT Ministry will be nodal agency for online gaming-related matters and sports ministry will have to include it in its curriculum, it has come as shot in arm for Esports enthusiasts.

International Olympic Association (IOC) too is going big on popularising e-Sport with Singapore being confirmed to host inaugural Olympic Esports Week in June next year.

This marks next big step in supporting development and integration of virtual sports with Olympic movement and engaging furr with competitive gamers.

IOC h said in November this year that Olympic Esports Week would showcase best of virtual sports -- hybrid physical and simulated sports -- in four-day festival from June 22 to 25, including exhibiting latest technologies, panel discussions, education sessions and show matches.

IOC President Thomas Bach h said last month that inaugural Olympic Esports Week would mark an important milestone "in our ambition to support growth of virtual sports within Olympic Movement".

Indian DOTA 2 team h clinched bronze at first Commonwealth Esports Championship held in Birmingham in August defeating New Zealand.

sport will make its debut at Asian Games to be held in Hangzhou, China next year.

Reacting to report of its inclusion as a mainline sport, Lokesh Suji, director, Esports Federation of India and vice-president of Asian Esports Federation, said efforts of fraternity h finally borne fruit.

"We have been constantly working on establishing difference between esports and iGaming, and finally, our efforts have been fulfilled. We welcome this announcement by our government, which will open new avenues to pour in more investment opportunities in this booming industry.

"From now onwards, we will have to build proper infrastructure, training facilities and coaching for our young esports athletes. Only a short time until we see esports being placed in same league as cricket, football, basketball, etc. and having similar fan power, scale and craze," said Suji. PTI AM AM SSC SSC