Finding barometers to measure the success of esports is often quite difficult, with naysayers in the sporting world often quick to point out that it isn’t a proper sport as competitors “aren’t running around”. Gamers understand how nonsensical such statements can be and with more investment, spectators, and TV viewing audiences than ever before, esports is still the fastest growing sporting industry on the planet.
However, mixing it with more traditional sports is not an opportunity many gamers receive. Typically for logistical reasons more than anything else. The much publicized Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, presented esports with the perfect window to showcase its potential as an international sporting force, and as always, it delivered.
The esports competitions at the Commonwealth Games were labeled ‘test events’, which gave those competing and spectating the perfect opportunity to showcase all that UK’s esports betting sites have to offer.
In one of the most successful, diverse, and celebrated Commonwealth Games in decades, the esports test events contributed heavily to the overall success of the games and it was a game to remember for the host nations.
Whilst Malaysia topped the esports medal table, England secured five medals in Birmingham across a range of events, with fans tuning in on the BBC and online through multiple streaming platforms. England actually picked up the most physical medals with five, but Malaysia’s three golds, as opposed to England’s one, meant they were crowned as the winners of the event.
In addition, three medals won by Wales, two by Scotland, and one for Northern Ireland, an excellent return for all of the home nations. One of the key positives of the event for Team England, was the broad spectrum of events where they picked up medals, with bronze coming in the women’s eFootball, three silvers in Dota 2 Open, Dota 2 women’s, and Rocket League Open.
Rocket League was the most popular event amongst the home nations, with England winning their only gold in the women’s event beating Scotland who finished second, while Wales clinched the open title. Cymru also secured silver in eFootball women’s and bronze in the eFootball open. Scotland picked up their other medal in the eFootball Open. Northern Ireland secured their only medal of the games, with Emzii producing a masterclass to clinch the women’s eFootball title. A return of 11 medals for home nations marked an impressive start at the Commonwealth Games, with countries such as India, Australia, Singapore, and aforementioned, Malaysia, making it onto the medal table.
While questions remain over the accessibility of esports to more deprived Commonwealth nations in Africa and Asia, the events at Birmingham 2022 were a success, with crowds in attendance and a supremely high level of gameplay across the board. More pertinently, with the Olympics in Los Angeles in 2028 now being seen as a potential Olympic introduction to esports, the upward curve looks to be showing no sign of slowing.
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