Stereotypes holding back esports industry in Australia: Bond University

Esports has a legitimacy issue in Australia, according to Bond University’s Dr James Birt.

The associate professor of film, screen and creative media believes that stereotypes are holding back the esports industry in Australia from capitalising on the nation’s large fanbase.

“People still think of those old tropes around dead-eyed teens glued to a screen in their mum’s basement,” Birt.

“It’s starting to change, slowly, but our research is finding that those stereotypes create barriers to Australia becoming a competitive force in a sport that has a huge and dedicated fan base here and around the world.”

According to Bond University researcher and PhD student J.D. Lindsay, esports can be compared to traditional athletic sports when it comes to competition, teamwork and mateship.

“[Esports players] have to be fit, they have to be mentally tough, they have to have endurance, dexterity and incredible strength of mind to be able to endure the training and to be able to perform under pressure at that level,” he said.

“But people see it as a hobby, not something that people are really training for at the elite level. They don’t understand the professionalism that’s required to operate at that level,” he said.

Birt asserts that the legitimacy issue could be addressed should esports be included as a sporting competition in the Olympic Games, in the same way that additional sports such as skateboarding and surfing have been included in recent years.

“It could open the door to a lot more opportunities for sponsors and advertisers that might otherwise shy away from investing in esports,” he said.

Esports was included as a demonstration event during the first Olympic Virtual Series at the Tokyo Olympics.

Lindsay believes that this is an indication that the event will be included in the Olympic Games in the future.

“If you think about Brisbane 2032, the kids who would be competing there would be between 8 and 14 now,” he said.

“Currently that lack of athletic pathway means they aren’t growing and developing, - we need to be able to attract the right individuals within the esports context, retain them and ensure they are getting the right training to be competitive in that international elite environment.

“Unless we do that Australia won’t find success and we know how much Australians love to win.”

Dr James Birt, Bond University