THE RISE OF

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ESPORTS
The bedroom coders of the 1980s helped spawn a huge gaming industry that continues to evolve and
flourish nearly four decades on, with the development of esports. Johanna Hamilton AMBCS looks at the
rise of a multi-million dollar industry and the significant benefits the fledgling industry offers society.
Esports has the adrenaline-fuelled for up to eight hours a day and even have support and direction within the new
excitement of a traditional sports event, professional coaches and nutritionists. industry, from grassroots upwards- much
filling stadia and transfixing millions of The stars of this new sports arena also like a traditional national body for, say,
people with streamed content across the command six-figure salaries for their rugby or tennis.
globe. Esports is organised, competitive pro-gaming skills, often supplemented by Chester said: ‘We were set up to
video gaming, utilising around 35 different lucrative sponsorship deals. promote esports in the UK, increase its
video games for human v human game Taking into account the large prize level of awareness, improve standards and
play. To play, all that is required is a PC funds, the global audience of hundreds of inspire future talent. We are not pushing
esports as a rival to traditional sport, but
‘It is estimated that esports will attract around 300m as a credible activity in its own right, which
viewers by 2022 – and could be worth almost £2bn.’ can have positive cognitive and other
Image: Adobe.Stock/Gorodenkoff

benefits when done in moderation. Esports

or console and to watch, just an internet
connection and a viewing service such as
YouTube Gaming, Twitch or Netflix - and a
keen interest in gameplay.
What is esports?
In the UK, esports is defined as a ‘game’
rather than a sport. Like most games, the
participant’s physicality is not an issue. The
inclusive nature of gaming focuses not on
strength and agility like most sports, but
©2019 The British Computer Society
millions and revenue opportunities both
from advertising and merchandising, it’s
easy to see why big business is supporting
the growth. However, it’s the raft of
benefits away from money and stardom
that are most intriguing to BCS.
The founding of the British Esports
Association
The huge upsurge in international gaming
led to the founding of the British Esports
promotes teamwork and communication,
develops communities and provides jobs,
and is an exciting activity, particularly for
young people.’
In fact, one of British Esports’ aims is
to create the British champions of the
future. There have been recent news
reports from the BBC that esports could
be included as an event in the 2024 Paris
Olympics. Chester King is the only UK
representative to sit on the International

on much more cerebral elements including
fast reactions, extreme concentration
and strategic thinking. However, like
more traditional sports, life skills such as
effective communication, teamwork and
leadership are all developed.
According to Goldman Sachs’ report
doi:10.1093/itnow/bwz068
Association in 2016. It is estimated that
esports will attract around 300m viewers
by 2022 – and could be worth
almost £2bn.
Chester King, founder and CEO, began
the organisation after finding there was
nowhere for his teenage son, who was
Olympic Committee’s Esports Advisory
Group, where he is helping to shape the
IOC’s esports strategy.
International levels to grassroots
While the British Esports Association is
thrilled to be part of the international

The World of Games, there are 50 colleges passionate about esports, to find out promotion of esports, it is the grassroots
in the USA with varsity esports teams. more about the industry in the UK. He adoption of the game in schools that
Akin to traditional sports teams, the wanted there to be a place that gamers makes them most proud. Tom Dore, Head
stateside professional esport teams train and parents alike could go for information, of Education at BEA and a well-seasoned

28 ITNOW September 2019


schoolteacher, advocates the use of esports
as an alternative to traditional team-based
activities such as sport, music and drama.
Tom says: ‘Esports allows schools and
colleges to engage a wider demographic
of young people than traditional extra-
curricular activities. Through their
participation in esports, young people can
develop all the same holistic personal
attributes as these traditional activities:
teamwork, leadership, communication,
problem solving and strategic decision
making. Competitive esports competitions,
like the British Esports Championships,
where teams will experience both winning
and losing, also allow young people to
learn and develop resilience- exactly like in
traditional sports teams.’
Last year, the British Esports
Association launched the British Esports
Championships for schools, colleges and
alternative provision schools. Following
a successful pilot in early 2018, British
Esports Championships launched in
September 2018.
Tom continues: ‘Season one ran until
Christmas and season two ran from
January until Easter. We had 80 school and
college teams per season, playing each
other in online fixtures every Wednesday
after school, using three different age-
appropriate, team-based esports games
– League of Legends, Overwatch and Rocket
League.
The winners of each season played
in our live grand finals, which were held
at Insomnia64, the UK’s largest gaming
festival, at the Birmingham NEC over the
Easter weekend. The winners of the League
of Legends competition got to spend
the day with professional organisation
EXCEL Esports at their HQ at Twickenham
Stadium, home of England Rugby. We have
also just finished a ground-breaking eight-
week project in eight alternative provision
schools; the positive impact of which has
far exceeded our expectations.’
Men vs women?
While still a largely male-dominated
industry, esports could offer a truly gender-
equal playing field. Following on from the
recent discussions about what defines
gender in traditional sport, esports is
‘For computing and IT teachers, I strongly believe
esports can be that activity; an activity that young
people really enjoy and want to do.’
inclusive. In fact, Dr Anesa Hosein of the
University of Surrey published a study in
October 2018, finding that 13 and 14-year-
old girls who played computer games for
9+ hours a week, were three times more
likely to pursue a degree in STEM subjects
than their non-gaming contemporaries.
A degree in esports
While many universities have esports
teams, just two are running courses based
on the subject (https://bit.ly/2WY8Y7c).
Staffordshire University launched its
honours degree course in esports in
September 2018. Far from it being a
degree in playing games, the course
teaches students how to build teams,
plan events, create business plans and
digital marketing, as well as the ethical
and legislative restrictions that govern the
industry. Chichester University also offers
an esports degree including competitive
game play, sports science, psychology,
event production and business. In the US
there are now over 200 Colleges offering
student scholarships for esports in the
same way they do for traditional sports.
ESPORTS
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Positive learning and teamwork from
esports
Not confined to university education,
esports has an important role to play
within all secondary schools and
academies, both for academic achievement
and pastoral wellbeing.
Tom Dore elucidates: ‘We believe there
are clear links between esports and
computing education, STEM subjects, and
the development of digital skills and digital
literacy. Esports can be used as the vehicle
to hook, motivate and engage young people
and then promote relevant skills, education
and career pathways in these areas that
are so critical to our society.
To date, very little research has been
done to investigate these links, especially in
11-18 education, because esports is such a
recent phenomenon. However, we believe
strongly this is work that needs to be done.
This is why we have reached out to the
BCS, STEM Learning, the Royal Institute
and local Digital Skills Partnerships, to
raise awareness of esports and how it can
be used to engage young people.
‘Teachers are told to find an activity
to engage young people outside the
classroom that helps to build positive,
professional relationships with them, which
will in turn help back in the classroom. For
some teachers, that activity is traditional
sport, music or drama. For computing
and IT teachers, I strongly believe esports
can be that activity; an activity that young
people really enjoy and want to do.’
To find out more about esports and the
work of the British Esports Association,
please visit www.britishesports.org or
contact Tom Dore, Head of Education,
tad@britishesports.org.
September 2019 ITNOW 29