Young Australians back esports in Olympics, survey finds

Logitech G has published research showing that most Australians aged 18 to 24 support adding esports to the Olympic Games, highlighting a sharp generational divide.

The survey covered 1,500 people in Australia as part of a wider global study of 18,000 participants. It found that 59% of Australians aged 18 to 24 believe esports should be included in the Olympics, compared with 22% of the overall population.

Support fell sharply among older age groups, standing at 19% among those aged 45 to 54 and dropping to 4.6% among Australians aged 55 and over.

The figures suggest younger Australians are more willing than older generations to treat competitive gaming as a sport. They also show that Olympic recognition remains a minority view nationally, despite stronger backing among younger adults.

Australian results were also higher than those recorded among younger respondents globally. The study found that about half of 18-to-24-year-olds worldwide said esports should be part of the Olympics, putting young Australians almost 10 percentage points ahead of their peers.

Generational split

The data highlights a debate that has widened as esports has grown from a niche pastime into a global spectator and professional industry. While competitive gaming now attracts large audiences, sponsorship deals and established leagues, public acceptance of its status alongside traditional sports remains uneven.

That tension is visible in the gap between younger and older Australians. For many younger people, gaming is a mainstream part of entertainment and social life, making the idea of elite competition at a global sporting event less of a leap than it may seem to older groups.

Daniel Hall set out that view in comments accompanying the findings.

"The results of this study expose a clear generational divide in how Australians define sport and entertainment," said Daniel Hall, senior category manager, Logitech G ANZ.

Hall argued that, for many younger consumers, gaming now sits close to conventional ideas of sporting competition. He said the numbers reflect more than a simple preference for gaming.

"Gaming is a large part of many young Australians' lifestyles, so it is perhaps unsurprising that the majority feel it should be included in the Olympics. However, these figures point at something deeper - an evolving conversation around what makes a sportsperson. While older generations might be sceptical of the comparison, the reality is that professional gamers are skilled cognitive athletes - they endure extensive multi-hour training schedules, require split-second reflexes and handle intense pressure just like a gymnast, sprinter or swimmer. As these findings show, differences between what could traditionally be called 'sports' and 'entertainment' are narrowing, with lines becoming increasingly blurred with each new generation," Hall said.

Wider context

The debate over esports and the Olympics has been shaped by broader questions about what the Games should include and how they remain relevant to younger audiences. Competitive gaming has expanded rapidly over the past decade, but Olympic inclusion remains contentious because of concerns about game genres, governance structures and whether digital competition fits established sporting definitions.

In Australia, the survey suggests the issue is now partly generational. The country has a long sporting culture, but younger respondents appear more open to extending that enthusiasm for competition to digital formats.

Hall said the Australian data was notable because support among young adults outpaced the global average despite the country's traditional image as a nation strongly attached to physical outdoor sport.

"Considering how outdoorsy we are brought up to be here Down Under, it's very interesting that young Aussies are among the more passionate supporters globally when it comes to esports in the Olympics," Hall said.

He added that the findings point to a broader shift in how competition is understood. "It further reinforces that we are genuinely a sports-mad nation, but this enthusiasm isn't just confined to the pitch or pool anymore. Aussies love competition, team strategy and the thrill of a win, so it's only natural that this passion has spilled over into the digital arena," Hall said.

The survey offers a snapshot of changing attitudes as younger generations bring gaming further into the mainstream, even as support for esports in the Olympics remains far from settled among the Australian public.