2022 Asian Games brings esports as a medal sports event

Esports will be an official medial event at the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou, China. Speaking to SCMP, the tournament’s organizers said they are finalizing plans to include competitive video game competitions like CS:GO, League of Legends and Dota 2.

All 45 nations expected at the event will have an opportunity to field pro gamers to compete in different video games. In the usual style, the objective will be to win medals—gold, silver and bronze for the top three positions respectively.

Which esports will be played at the 2022 Asian Games? 

Event organizers have yet to confirm the exact number of esports games to be offered in Hangzhou. However, the expectation is that the Asian Games will feature all major esports, from League of Legends and Fortnite to PUBG and Call of Duty.

Vitally, there will be solo and multiplayer competitions. As such, interested pro gamers can represent their countries alone or go as teams of 2-6 players, depending on the video game. Of course, it’s still not clear which countries are willing to sponsor esports players.

But based on recent history, India, China, South Korea, Pakistan and Japan have been the most supportive of the esports industry. Many of these countries host esports events regularly, though the competitions are sponsored by private financers.

Can you bet on esports?

Betting on esports is no longer a dream. It’s something you can do at a growing number of online sportsbooks. Of course, sports gambling must be legal in your jurisdiction to find bookies willing to welcome you.

That said, you can bet on virtually all major video game competitions. In other words, you don’t have to wait for the 2022 Asian Games to predict gaming tournaments for real money. You can bet on present competitions regardless of where you live.

What can you bet on in esports? Youcan wager on everything wagered in traditional sports. You can predict the winner of a game in Fortnite. Or you could speculate the number of CS:GO kills a specific player makes, flags corrected or who makes the last kill.

How are the Prize Pools?

Because Asian Games are medal events, the rewards for winning are gold, silver or bronze. The ultimate winner takes home the gold medal. The first runner-up walks away with silver while the third player or team gets bronze.

In the case of team-based games, everyone in the winning team gets a medal. You’re allowed to keep these medals even after the tournament is over. However, you can also exchange them for money—the specific equivalent of a medal for cash varies from one country to another.

How Can you Watch esports at the 2022 Asian Games? 

Like many esports tournaments, the Asian Games will probably live stream video games straight from Hangzhou. That means they will be available on YouTube, Twitch, Facebook or whichever website the competition’s organizers decide.

Another way to watch the events will be on TV. Asian games are broadcast on national televisions in most Asian countries. So if you can’t live stream the events, you can watch them through your favorite TV station.

When will esports be added to the Olympics?

In the past couple of years, there have been efforts to add esports to the Olympics.  Now, there are signs it could be added to the 2024 Olympics. It’s not a done deal yet, but the move could be fast tracked if Hangzhou successfully organizes esports in its 2022 events. 

How Can you get Started with esports?

If you’re interested in becoming an esports professional, there’s no better time to get started. Esports is now a billion-dollar industry and the best professionals make millions of dollars playing video games.

That said, becoming an elite esports player is easier said than done. Most professionals take years to attract the attention of scouts and established teams. And once at the top, the competition is too high that many players retire after a few years. 

Others transition into streaming on Twitch, YouTube and even Facebook. Streamers showcase their talents to live audiences. They then use their fame to make money through advertisements, affiliate marketing and selling merchandise.

Written by Esportz Network

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