Watch: Was GT7 the Right Choice for the Olympic Esports Series?


The Olympic Games are one of the biggest sports event in the world, and in 2023, a dedicated Esports Olympics were held for the first time in Singapore. Motorsport and sim racing were part of the event, using Gran Turismo 7 - but was the title the right choice to represent the discipline?

Image credit: OverTake

On paper, the choice makes sense: One of the best-known racing franchises was chosen to represent sim racing in the Olympic Esports Series. The game is very accessible and cherished by many racing fans who own a PlayStation 5, and it provided a good show in Singapore. Emily "Emree" Jones was present at the event - and wonders whether or not GT7 was the best title to use.

With great accessibility in mind, there Emily also discusses a few downsides that were not necessarily rooted in the game - like the timing of informing drivers about tire wear and fuel consumption multipliers. A short summary of the event quickly leads to her conclusion of it having been fun and a good showing for sim racing as a discipline - but you will have to watch the rest of the video to find out the answer to the question asked above.

Interestingly, Assetto Corsa Competizione was the title of choice for the esports portion of the 2022 FIA Motorsport Games, which similarly saw sim racers compete for their respective countries. James Baldwin took the gold for the United Kingdom, with Chris Harteveld (Netherlands) and Alberto García (Spain) completing the podium at Circuit Paul Ricard.

Your Thoughts​

What is your opinion on Gran Turismo 7 being chosen to represent sim racing at the Olympic Esports Series? Would you have rather seen a different title at the event? Let us know in the comments below!
About author
Yannik Haustein
Lifelong motorsport enthusiast and sim racing aficionado, walking racing history encyclopedia.

Sim racing editor, streamer and one half of the SimRacing Buddies podcast (warning, German!).

Heel & Toe Gang 4 life :D

Comments

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Why not? Archery is olympic, curling is olympic, bowling was olympic, croquet was olympic, why not an esports that requires skills as well.

Edit: Ballooning was olympic in 1900 as was Live Pigeon Shooting, Gliding was olympic in 1936 :)
I don't think Archery is a good example here. Archery is one of the oldest sports, probably just behind wrestling, boxing and the javelin/spear throw. Also, as human cultural advancement, it is on par with fire and the invention of wheel! As seen in almost all ancient culture and lore. 5000 years form now people are not going to be talking about the invention of the direct drive wheel. Just because it has not been popular for a few decades it was one of the most popular for several millennia.
 
Last edited:
Why not? Archery is olympic, curling is olympic, bowling was olympic, croquet was olympic, why not an esports that requires skills as well.

Edit: Ballooning was olympic in 1900 as was Live Pigeon Shooting, Gliding was olympic in 1936 :)

Because it's virtual. It's not really happening. It's bits and bytes. We could just as easily have virtual track & field, virtual tennis, play FIFA or whatever, instead of sending athletes to participate.
That's why I say I'm OK with dedicated esport events. Do a completely virtual Olympics for all I care. But not a virtual event inside the real thing.
 
Well, F1 Esports backed by real F1 teams compete on a platform using Codemasters Mario Kart physics...
Maybe they picked GT7 because of sponsorships, who knows.
 
haha esports olympic games? wtf is the world coming to, the olympics are about being an athlete, not some sweaty nerd playing videos games in their mums basement,
 

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