Less than three months before the opening of the Tokyo Games, amid uncertainty regarding the health situation next summer in Japan, the IOC announced the creation of a new competition.
It will be virtual. It is meant to address the recommendations made in the Olympic agenda “2020+5” on the “development of virtual sports and engagement with the video gaming communities.”
The first Olympic Virtual Series will take place from May 13 to June 23.
The Olympic body explains in a statement: the project aims to be a new and unique Olympic digital experience, intended to strengthen direct engagement with new audiences in the field of virtual sports.
For the IOC, this is a significant step. It realizes, at least in intention, the body’s desire not to disconnect from a global phenomenon, eSport, with its massive dimensions. But this first step still proves to be a cautious one.
Only five sports are included in the Olympic Virtual Series program: baseball, cycling, rowing, sailing, and motor racing. The competitions will be held on simulation games, Zwift for cycling, Virtual Regatta for sailing, eBaseball 2020 for baseball, Gran Turismo for motor racing, and a rowing simulator.
