2022 Asian Games, the 19th edition has added Esports to its list of medaled sports along with Breakdancing, which was announced a few days ago.
The 39th General Assembly of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) was held in Muscat, Oman on Wednesday, during the meeting they announced that breakdancing and esports were approved to be included in the 19th edition of Asian Games in 2022 in Hangzhou.
Esports was already introduced to Asian Games for the first time in Jakarta in 2018, but it was only a demonstration back then but this time it has become an official medaled event along with Breakdancing. Esports was also a medal sport at last year’s Southeast Asian Games in the Philippines.
“I hope that electronic sports will add value to the Asian Games –- and I am sure it will in the future, during the Asian Games 2022 and even beyond that,” the OCA’s Asian Games director, Haider Farman, said in a statement on Friday. Also according to the announcement by the authority, Esports will join as “intellectual titles” of the event alongside chess, and break dancing will be added as “dancesport.”
The authority will, later on, specify the other information including which video games are included, and how competitions will take place, which will be confirmed after further discussion.
Two years ago, five video games – League of Legends, Arena of Valor, Pro Evolution of Soccer 2018, StarCraft II, Hearthstone, and Clash Royale – were chosen for Jakarta. China won golds in LOL and Arena of Valor.
Breakdancing, skateboarding, surfing and sport climbing were approved for the Paris 2024 Olympics earlier this month, as the Games strive forward to appeal to younger audiences.
