Gran Turismo set to become an Olympic sport, sort of
International Olympic Committee makes move into virtual sports by announcing the first-ever Olympic Virtual Series ahead of July’s Tokyo Olympic Games, which will include motorsports.The inaugural Olympic Virtual Series will see the IOC partner with five International Sports Federations and game publishers to produce the online Olympic series, the first-ever, Olympic-licensed event physical and non-physical virtual sports.
Set to take place ahead of the Tokyo Games, the Virtual Olympics will start on the 13 May and run until 23 June 2021. The aim of the Olympic Virtual Series will be to get esports and gaming enthusiasts all around the world excited and involved within the Olympic world, while also encouraging the development of physical and non-physical forms of sports in line with the recommendations of the IOC’s Olympic Agenda 2020+5. It also acts as a perfect socially distanced COVID-Safe event that can’t really be cancelled unless the NBN goes down…
The IOC worked with the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) and game maker Polyphony for the Virtual Olympic tie-up which will see fan favourite, Gran Turismo brought to the Olympic main stage.
The Gran Turismo game of choice for 2021 will most likely be Gran Turismo Sport for the PS4. While Gran Turismo 7 was announced in June 2020 for release alongside the new PS5, it has been delayed until 2022 due to pandemic-related production issues. No official word yet from the game maker, FIA or Playstation on how to enter the event or whether a virtual Olympic medal ceremony will transpire in real Gold, Silver and Bronze medallions for the winners.
Motorsport joins baseball, cycling, rowing, and sailing as part of the inaugural virtual Olympic games. All Olympic Virtual Sports events will differ in form and concept and will operate via the sport’s respective publisher platforms where participants will be able to take part.
Esports has been gaining in popularity in recent years with tournaments reaching the masses via social channels like YouTube and Twitch. The prize money alone is eyewatering and in some instances shadows that of an Olympic athlete. No surprise then that the IOC is keen to engage the esports generation before it's too late.
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