Table of Contents
Esports have become an official part of the Asian Games this year. For the first time ever, players can compete for gold medals in seven different video games.
The Asian Games has always had games that challenge the mind, like chess and bridge. So, it’s not surprising that esports have been added to the event. Esports are now very popular and can earn a lot of money.
Teams from more than 30 countries are participating at the event in China. Many people think South Korea and China will do really well. The esports events are expected to be the most-watched during the two-week Asian Games.
There are five PC games and two mobile games in the competition. Street Fighter V, League of Legends, and EA Sports FC (FIFA) are some of the games.
A research company called Newzoo says that there will be about 3.79 billion gamers worldwide by the end of 2026. Mobile gaming will be a big part of that. They also expect the annual revenue from gaming to grow to $187.7 billion.
Although esports are now part of the Asian Games, it’s not clear if it will ever be in the Olympics.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is interested in attracting young viewers. That’s why they added skateboarding and surfing in the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 and breakdancing to the Paris Olympics in 2024.
The IOC is researching virtual sports, like cycling on a stationary bike to simulate a bike race like the Tour de France.
Vocabulary
- Esports – competitive video gaming; playing video games in competitions or to win real prizes
- Official – permitted, accepted, and/or approved by the government;
- Compete – to try to be better than others business or people in a particular activity or market
- Medal – A special prize or award often given for winning 🥇
- Video game – a game that is played on a computer or other electronic device
- Challenge – to test someone’s ability or determination; to present tasks to someone that need great mental or physical effort in order to be done successfully
- Mind – the part of the body that controls thought and feeling; brain;
- Surprising – Something unexpected or not what you thought;
- Earn – to get something (usually money) because you worked, sold something, or helped someone; to receive
- Participate – to do with, to take part in, to join, cooperate
- Expect – to think something will happen; forecast; predict; suppose
- Mobile game – A game played on a smartphone or tablet
- Competition – contest; game to find the best or a winner; tournament
- Research company – a company that collects and analyzes information; A group that studies and learns about things
- Billion – 1,000,000,000 = one-billion
- Worldwide – all around the world; everywhere in the world
- Annual – every year; yearly
- Revenue – income; money that comes in; money earned; earnings
- Although – even though; despite the fact; however; but
- Interested in – Wanting to learn more about something or be involved with
- Attract – to cause something to come toward something else; to pull or draw someone or something toward them
- Viewer – a person who watches an event or show;
- Virtual sports – Sports that are played on a computer or virtually
- Stationary bike – A bike that doesn’t move and is used for exercise
- Simulate – To make something seem real or like it’s happening; to make something look or feel like something else
Quiz
Discussion Questions
- Why do you think esports are becoming so popular?
- Do you think it’s a good idea to include esports in major sporting events like the Asian Games? Why or why not?
- What are your thoughts on virtual sports like cycling on a stationary bike as a form of competition? Is it as exciting as traditional sports?
- Do you think the IOC should continue adding new sports and activities like skateboarding and esports to attract young viewers? Why or why not?
- English teachers looking for teaching ideas, check out my post on using easy news articles for lessons.
- English learners looking for study ideas, check out my post on using news stories for English practice.
Original Story
Fill-in-the-Blank Listening Practice
Esports have _____ an official part of the Asian Games this year. For the first time _____, players can compete for gold medals in seven _____ video games.
The Asian Games has _____ had games that challenge the mind, like _____ and bridge. So, it’s not surprising that _____ have been added to the event. Esports are now very _____ and can earn a lot of money.
_____ from more than 30 countries are participating at the _____ in China. Many people think South Korea and China will _____ really well. The esports events are expected to be the most-watched _____ the two-week Asian Games.
There are five PC games and two _____ games in the competition. Street Fighter V, League of Legends, and EA Sports FC (FIFA) are some of the games.
A _____ company called Newzoo says that there will be about 3.79 billion _____ worldwide by the end of 2026. Mobile gaming will be a big _____ of that. They also expect the _____ revenue from gaming to grow to $187.7 billion.
Although esports are now _____ of the Asian Games, it’s not clear if it will _____ be in the Olympics.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is _____ in attracting young viewers. That’s why they added skateboarding and _____ in the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 and breakdancing to the Paris Olympics in 2024.
The IOC is _____virtual sports, like cycling on a stationary bike to simulate a bike race _____ the Tour de France.
