New Delhi, June 4: In order to bring esports to the mainstream sports ecosystem, Esports Federation of India (ESFI) has raised questions on the inclusion of esports and clubbing it with fantasy sports in the recently announced Rajasthan Virtual Online Sports (Regulation) Bill 2022, released by the Revenue Department of the state.
ESFI has termed this Bill as detrimental to the growth of esports in India.
Along with its affiliated association from Rajasthan ESFI have shared their concerns, requesting the Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and Sports Minister Ashok Chandna to remove esports from being part of Virtual Online Sports and the bill.
The federation has also requested Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur, MoS-Sports Nishith Pramanik and Secretary of Sports Sujata Chaturvedi for their immediate intervention, as esports is an extension of sports and should be removed from the draft bill.
The sports governing body wrote a letter to Rajasthan goverment raising their concerns that ‘the name of the Bill ‘Virtual Sports’ is not appropriate as this will lead to people misunderstanding fantasy sports as a sport.
“Esports is a sport and it cannot be clubbed with fantasy sports. It is recognised as a sport by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), which is the apex body of sports along with the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), Commonwealth Games etc. And they have included esports in their multiple events,” it said in a letter.
“Esports is governed through recognised international and continental federations such as the International Esports Federation (IESF), Asian Esports Federation (AESF), and Pan American Esports Confederation (PAMESCO).
Leading countries and sports governing bodies have acknowledged Esports as a sport and are regulating the same under their sports laws/acts.
“It becomes vividly clear that Esports is and has been recognised as a sport and thus, it shall be obliged under the Sports Act of the Rajasthan State; It is on account of the presence of the Act that the bill becomes not only moot but also wrong to apply the rules of fantasy onto Esports; whether free to play and/or pay-to-play,” the letter read.
“It’s important to understand that not all games played electronically are esports. The outcome of any esports match is solely and purely based on the skills (physical and mental). Performances of the esports athletes are just like cricket, badminton etc.
It’s absolutely wrong to club esports (a sport) with fantasy gaming or anything other than sports,” said Vinod Tiwari, President of ESFI, Director International & NOC Relations of Olympic Council of Asia and Convenor-Esports Committee, Olympic Council of Asia.
(UNI)
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