Africa-Press – Lesotho. What if, 20 years from now, people start seeing games like basketball or football, played on actual fields, as relics of the past?
While traditional sports have long held the global spotlight, esports is rapidly gaining ground, with millions of fans, growing investment, and recognition from major institutions like the International Olympic Committee.
In 2024, the global esports market was valued at approximately $2.09 billion and is projected to hit $9.29 billion by 2034, according to Fortune Business Insights.
Along with profits, viewership is also booming. Las year’s League of Legends World Championship Final peaked at 6.94 million viewers globally, excluding China, and filled London’s O2 Arena with over 14,000 fans.
Blending fast-paced action, real-time interaction, and immersive visuals, esports is reshaping what sports can look like.
“Esports is beyond sport. Esports is next level. It’s a pure form of entertainment for future generations,” says Orlando Carlo Calumeno, chairman of the Istanbul Wildcats, Türkiye’s first esports club.
“The next Ronaldo, Messi, Michael Jordan will be in esports,” he added, speaking to Anadolu.
A growing global spectacle
Gaming is now a dominant form of entertainment for younger audiences.
In the US, large numbers of Gen Z users are swapping real-world activities for online experiences, according to Deloitte’s Digital Media Trends report.
Calumeno agrees. He believes esports is gaining popularity and closing in on the gap with traditional sports in many parts of the world. “Rather than watching a Real Madrid-Barcelona game… people prefer to watch a new esports game in North America, Asia, or Türkiye.”
In 2025, the global esports audience is expected to surpass 640 million, with 318 million dedicated fans and 322 million casual viewers, according to industry forecasts.
These numbers reveal just how big the video game development industry is and that it will continue to grow, withCalumeno pointing out that the gaming sector is now as large as the American movies and music combined.
Esports: Opportunities ahead
For those who love gaming, the digital age is opening doors that go beyond just playing for fun. Esports is rapidly becoming a serious career and business opportunity.
In 2024, the US video game industry supported nearly 350,000 jobs, both directly and indirectly, generating $101 billion in annual economic output, according to the Entertainment Software Association’s 2024 report.
Over 109,000 gaming-related job openings were posted worldwide in 2025, reflecting strong hiring demand in areas such as game development, design, and engineering, according to JobSpikr’s 2025 Gaming Industry Labor Market Report.
As Calumeno explains, “You can be an esports player, you can be a coach, you can be an assistant. You can be involved with an esports club or esports team and you can be in the management as well.”
The transition from physical arenas to digital screens is changing how people consume and participate in sports. Accessible through smartphones and online platforms, esports now brings global competition directly into people’s homes.
Its growth is happening worldwide, with countries like the United Arab Emirates investing billions in video game development and esports infrastructure, while China is building specialized venues dedicated to esports players, teams, and fans.
Calumeno stresses inclusivity in this evolving scene: “I don’t care about the gender, I care about dedication, hard work, and how much they want to be successful. Why should a woman feel less privileged than men?”
He emphasizes that female esports professionals are no different from their male counterparts and deserve equal recognition.
As esports continues to expand, it is cementing its place in global culture — where digital competitions are beginning to rival traditional sports in both popularity and influence.
Olympics next
Calumeno believes it is only a matter of time before esports teams surpass their counterparts in traditional sports in terms of visibility and prestige — and that is why they will have a place in the Olympics.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has already embraced competitive gaming with the launch of the Olympic Esports Games, set to debut in 2027 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
This follows earlier initiatives like the 2021 Olympic Virtual Series and the 2023 Olympic Esports Week in Singapore.
As part of a 12-year agreement with Saudi Arabia, the IOC aims to host regular Olympic Esports Games, promoting Olympic values and engaging younger audiences.
A six-member committee will be responsible for selecting the games to be featured, ensuring they align with the Olympics’ principles.
Calumeno sees this as an inevitable progression, imagining a future where huge crowds come together to watch these digital competitions: “Imagine 10 kids facing each other, and an entire stadium of 20,000-40,000 people watching them — that is the new era of sports.”
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