'It would be difficult' - Alban Dechelotte opens up about upcoming Esports Olympics

Alban Dechelotte, CEO of G2 Esports, has shared his enthusiastic vision for the upcoming Olympic Esports Games, which he believes will elevate gaming to the stature of the Winter and Summer Olympics. This bold assertion comes on the heels of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) announcing a 12-year partnership with Saudi Arabia to host the standalone esports event.

Dechelotte’s excitement is palpable as he discusses the potential of this new venture. Having been approached by the IOC to offer his expertise, Dechelotte sees this as a golden opportunity to bring competitive gaming to a broader audience.

"For 20 years, esports and gaming have been growing," he notes. "It's clear it's not just a trend. We have years of seeing millions of people watching the biggest finals. There's less fear and more excitement for the potential."

The integration of esports into major sporting events isn't entirely new. Dechelotte highlights the significant impact of the 2022 Commonwealth Games and Asian Games, where esports events were held alongside traditional sports. The success of these events helped convince the IOC of esports' potential, leading to this groundbreaking initiative.

Equal opportunity for male and female gamers

A key aspect of the Olympic Esports Games will be the equal participation of male and female gamers, a goal Dechelotte is particularly passionate about. He acknowledges that the esports industry has historically failed female players by not providing enough opportunities for them to compete at the highest levels.

"Talented and gifted players are there, but we don't give them enough chances to perform at the highest level and we don't give them enough paths to become pros," he admits. However, he promises that the Olympic Esports Games will aim for full gender parity from the inaugural event.

The choice of Saudi Arabia as a partner has raised eyebrows due to the country's human rights record. However, Dechelotte maintains a positive outlook based on his own experiences and assurances from Saudi officials that the competition will be inclusive regardless of gender or sexuality.

Despite this, there remains scepticism within the community about the true inclusivity of the event, particularly given past criticisms of the Esports World Cup's lack of female representation. Looking ahead, the specifics of which games will be included in the Olympic Esports Games are still under consideration.

Titles like Rocket League, League of Legends, EA FC, and Street Fighter have been popular in previous esports events, but the inclusion of first-person shooters like Call of Duty and Counter-Strike 2 remains uncertain.