Esport in the sport for development and peace sector: innovation and spheres of change

In a post-pandemic world what might Sport for Development and Peace (SDP) look like? The aim of this chapter is to explore the opportunities and challenges of enhancing the scope and methodological approach of SDP via esport. In countering the traditional narratives of SDP, we argue that esport is now a fundamental feature in today’s digital and popular culture and provides participants with unique opportunities to engage and participate in new social contexts. This chapter confronts the tension between the nascent esport industry and traditional SDP programming, by highlighting that integration and alignment between the two will mark an extension for SDP implementation. This is important for the evolution of SDP in a changing world, as as the authors of this chapter question if traditional sport might no longer represent or seduce the populations it aims to engage with and argues that activities such as video gaming might offer equally effective returns on their investment. With economic mobility and enhancing livelihoods likely to drive post pandemic SDP goals, we argue that esport can expand and enrich SDP methodologies to develop digital skills and education, entrepreneurial opportunities, transnational connectivity, problem-solving, and strategic skill development.