Simulators, games and flags: eSports also lit up Rosario | OneFootball

The South American Games brought esports into an official competition for the first time, and Rosario responded with crowds, families, and a lot of curiosity. Between those who played and those who came to watch, the experience left a shared certainty: there is a gaming world that wants to keep growing.

In Rosario, during these Santa Fe 2026 South American Games, not everything happened on a field, a track, or in a pool. There were also screens, simulators, headsets, keyboards, and controllers. Esports had their place in the competition, and around them, another key player emerged: the public.

Some came because they already know the gaming world. Others came accompanying their children. And there were also those who stopped by simply out of curiosity and ended up discovering a competition that, for many, is still relatively new.

“It’s great, I love that it came to the Games. I always watch, though I don’t play that much. I feel like it could become huge in the future,” said one of the spectators who came to watch the competition.

Among those who do know that world up close was a family that came with their children, who are eSports players. “I have two sons, one nine and the other 13, who love this. The older one plays Valorant, so we’re here for him too,” their father said while walking around the venue with them.

For Henrich Mohr Benkestein, a member of Paraguay’s Valorant team, the experience also had special meaning. It was his first time taking part in an event like this, and he emphasized that it was an unprecedented opportunity for esports.

“I really liked the event, it was a lot of fun and I’m proud to take part as a Paraguayan. It was the first time,” he said. And he added: “It’s the first time in the world that there’s something official for electronic games. I think it’s the first step toward making it much bigger.”

The medal, the crowd, and the emotion

The competition also had Argentine athletes who felt the support of the crowd firsthand. Bruno Coleff won the silver medal in Assetto Corsa and acknowledged that, although he wanted gold, the result had special value.

“It’s very important to be the first ones. It’s a huge joy to add a medal to the Argentine delegation’s official medal table,” he said.

But there was something he highlighted even above the result: playing at home. “It’s magical to be here with my people, with my hometown. People stop you on the street, say hi, ask what sport you’re in, you show them the medal and they ask for a photo. It’s a beautiful experience,” he said.

The crowd was also present at the Valorant finals. Daniela Arias, gold medalist, said the final was “crazy” and appreciated the support during a competition that, she explained, requires a great deal of mental preparation.

Her teammate Lautaro Zuviría agreed: “You could really feel the home-field advantage. It showed in the final with Dani. It was incredible that people came to support us and, above all, esports.”

Meanwhile, from the stands, spectators followed the matches, tried the simulators, and discovered a different kind of setting within the Games. One of them said he was competing recreationally on the Monza circuit in Assetto Corsa: “It’s tough, but the experience is really great.”

The day also left an image that sums up the spirit of these Games: kids who found a place for competition in esports, parents who came to support them, and spectators who, even without knowing much about the gaming world, came over to watch.

“This is historic, because it’s never happened before. It’s great that they include kids in sports and here at the South American Games,” another spectator summed up while cheering on the Argentines.

And in Rosario, between a lap on the simulator and a Valorant final, esports found their own audience.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.