Although the possibility of esports events at the Olympic Games remains undecided, another conference due later this year shows an interest in continued engagement with esports from the traditional sports community.

The discussions taking place among the Olympic forums appear to be not only affecting the esports industry’s relationship with the Olympics, but have also opened a much larger dialogue about esports as whole across the gaming and media industries. With that in mind, here are some potential insights about the future of the industry attendees gleaned last weekend in Lausanne:

The International Olympic Movement is taking esports seriously

“The night before the panel, [the International Olympic Committee members] were meeting the Prime Minister of a European country for dinner,” said Michał Blicharz, VP of Esports at ESL Database-Link-e1521645463907, who attended the event but did not speak on any of the panels. “This is the type of activity that is commonplace on those people’s calendars, and yet they sat the entire day, and listened to practically every panel in Lausanne, which was telling of how seriously they take that topic.

“Thomas Bach [president of the International Olympic Committee] sat through the entire panel and listened intently. It must have been quite revealing to them, to listen to how similar the experiences are between esports professionals and Olympians. If I had to guess, the biggest things they learned was how similar in nature it is to sport, on many levels, and also how structurally different it is, and how challenging it can be.”

Sponsors are “paying attention” to esports demographics

“I think now what we’re seeing is a real inflection point for esports,” said Blizzard Entertainment president and CEO Mike Morhaime. “Folk that hadn’t really been paying attention to the esports phenomenon are now interested. So what we have, is that for the first time ESPN will be broadcasting the Overwatch Database-Link-e1521645463907 League on primetime, which we’ve not really seen before. We have sponsors paying attention, it’s a very attractive demographic. It’s 20 to 40 years younger than most traditional sports. It’s early, and I think it is just going to keep growing from here.”

TV sports broadcasters consider esports part of the “global sports landscape”

Rob Simmelkjaer, Senior Vice President at NBC Sports Ventures was vocal about the channel’s support of the esports industry, pointing out its property the Universal Open, as well as its esports based partnership with the US National Hockey League and EA Sports Database-Link-e1521645463907. “We do think [esports] is a permanent part of the global sports landscape,” he said. “And the global competitive landscape, and we’re excited to be a part of it, and excited that the International Olympic Committee is looking at it as well.”

Rick Fox is nailing esports advocacy

“He really has a bridge with that Olympic world, and now heavily in esports,” said IOC sports director Kit McConnell regarding retired NBA player and owner of Echo Fox, Rick Fox—who was uniquely qualified to moderate the esports forum event, delivering inspiring speeches to the audience, and asking well-informed questions of the panelists.