Young Australians want esports at the Olympics, but that support drops dramatically among older generations

Q: What percentage of Australians aged 18–24 support including esports in the Olympic Games?

59% of Australians aged 18-24 support including esports in the Olympic Games. This comes from a global study that surveyed 1,500 Australians.

Q: How does support for Olympic esports among 18–24-year-old Australians compare to the global sentiment for that age group?

Among Australians aged 18 to 24, 59% believe esports should be part of the Olympics, which is 10% higher than the global sentiment for the same age group, per the primary article.

Q: What level of support did Australians aged 45–54 show for esports in the Olympics in the survey?

Australians aged 45-54 showed just 19% support for esports being part of the Olympics in the survey.

Q: What proportion of Australians aged 55 and over support esports becoming part of the Olympic Games?

According to the article, only 4.6% of Australians aged 55 or over support esports becoming part of the Olympic Games. This figure comes from the survey of 1,500 Australians reported in the primary article.

Should esports become a part of the global Olympic Games? Well, according to a new survey Aussies between the ages of 18 and 24 say yes.

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Kosta Andreadis

Senior Editor

Published Jul 23, 2026 12:33 AM CDT

1 minute & 15 seconds read time

TL;DR: A 1,500‑person Australian survey shows a strong generational split on Olympic inclusion for esports: 59% of 18-24‑year‑olds support it, while support falls to 19% for ages 45-54 and 4.6% for 55+. Debate centers on whether esports qualify as sport amid evolving perceptions and the planned Olympic Esports Series.

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As part of a global study with a sample size of 1,500 Australians, which asked participants whether or not esports deserve to be in the Olympic Games, there's a definite generational divide when it comes to who said yes or no. For Aussies between the ages of 18 and 24, 59% believe that esports should be a part of the Olympics, which is 10% higher than the global sentiment amongst participants in the same age group.

Young Australians want esports at the Olympics, but that support drops dramatically among older generations 1

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However, once you look at the data for older Australians, this majority quickly evaporates. For those Australians surveyed between the ages of 45 and 54, this support falls to just 19%, with only 4.6% of Aussies aged 55 or over supporting the idea of esports becoming a part of the Olympic Games.

The idea of a global, Olympics-style event for esports has been a point of discussion for several years. The Olympic Esports Series, which is run by the same governing body as the Summer and Winter Olympic Games, is still on track to kick off in 2027; however, the choice of non-traditional esports titles (there's no Counter-Strike, Rocket League, or Call of Duty) has drawn criticism. Plus, the inaugural event's location is up in the air as Saudi Arabia pulled out of hosting the event last year.

Read more: Gen Z would like esports and professional gaming taught in school, study finds

Ultimately, the debate over whether it should become part of existing events or a separate Olympic Esports Series boils down to how esports are perceived. The ultimate question is: is it a sport?

"The results of this study expose a clear generational divide in how Australians define sport and entertainment," says Daniel Hall, Senior Category Manager at Logitech G ANZ. "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.

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Question #1

What percentage of Australians aged 18–24 support including esports in the Olympic Games?

Question #2

How does support for Olympic esports among 18–24-year-old Australians compare to the global sentiment for that age group?

Question #3

What level of support did Australians aged 45–54 show for esports in the Olympics in the survey?

Question #4

What proportion of Australians aged 55 and over support esports becoming part of the Olympic Games?

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"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."