Esports Delayed to Become the Official Branch Competing for Medals at the 2022 Asian Games

Esports, as the official medal sport of the 2022 Asian Games, has yet to be confirmed, said an official from the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), on Saturday 18th yesterday. Whereas previously Esports was expected to make its full debut at the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou.

Director General of OCA, Husain Al Musallam said that Esports is still being run by various entities or companies. To be included as a medal sport, Esports requires a recognized international federation.

“There needs to be an international federation, where until now there are still too many who recognize it as an international federation for esports,” said Husain Al Musallam, Director General of OCA.
“They must unite to determine a Governing Body that will regulate Esports”

This will be a bridge that is quite difficult to cross, considering that Esports, which is invested in millions to hundreds of millions of dollars by game developers, of course does not want other parties to control their products.

Another big stumbling block for Esports, is ensuring that Esports gamers around the world are able to comply with anti-doping regulations.

These are some of the reasons why Esports, as the official medal sport at the Hangzhou 2022 Asian Games, has been temporarily postponed.

For information, IeSF (International Esports Federation) together with IeSPA (Indonesia Esports Association), for the 8th world championship in Jakarta two years ago, have implemented anti-doping tests for athletes.

And in terms of international federations, IeSF (International Esports Federation) with 48 member countries, is currently in the process of being recognized by the IOC. If it is recognized, then not only asian games, but esports can be competed in the Olympics.
In addition, AeSF (Asia Esports Federation) has also been recognized by the OCA, so that it can hold Esports as a demonstration title at the 2018 Asian Games, Jakarta-Palembang.