Video Games as an Olympic Sport?

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It looks like someone is developing ideas of making computer games an Olympic sport. Here's a snip:

Gaming is seen as a lot of different things, depending on who's looking: a hobby, a killing simulation, a sport. Competitive gaming organization Global Gaming League is looking to heavily promote that last one, by getting gaming officially recognized as an Olympic sport in 2008. GGL head Ted Owen is currently in talks with the Chinese government regarding the matter, hoping that the region's strong competitive gaming scene will make it a good place to start. He figures if China gives approval, it will be followed in turn by the International Olympic Committee. "There is interest at the highest levels [of Chinese government]," said Owen about the discussions. "It is something that has momentum."

Read the rest at Shacknews.

 

This had got to be the most saddest news since I heard that the Netherlands will get a pedophile political party next year.

Olympic sport.....the idea

 

Indeed, I agree videogame is by no mean a sport! You don't do any physical excercies at all! I like videogames as much as the next guy, but hey it's NOT a sport.

 

Guys ... *Fishing* is considered a sport. *Chess* is considered a sport. With a definition of sport loose enough to consider these as sports, then videogames isn't much of a leap.

 

Ladies and Gentlemen, let me introduce Horny Jack "ADHD" Acneface, the Olympic champion in CS. Rise for the national anthem, please!

[ June 01, 2006, 13:40: Message edited by: chevalier ]

 

We've just had word from the judges at the CS event.

In a routine screening for performance enhancing substances. Jack Acneface tested positive for Pro Plus, Coca-Cola and Cheetos. This is a sad day for FPS fans across the country.

I don't think i've seen a violation this bad since the 2012 German Team were caught drinking Redbull before the Mariokartathon.

[ June 01, 2006, 14:29: Message edited by: Pseudospawn ]

 

during olympics or world cup, local tv or phone company have this ..... sport which at certain time on tv a certain message appear, contestants have to send the specific text message and the fastest sender is the winner. i also remember another similiar contest where contestants call a specific number, the station sends you a strings of words, you "finger" them back with cell phones, another strings of words, another round of fingering in, after several rounds, your average is determined then you can compare with the fastest in the nation. i am from malaysia.

Mark my words! cellphone instant text messaging WILL be the a sport featured in the Olympics! (after RPS made it, that is)

 

Chess is not a sport. A game, a passtime, but not a sport. A purely mental game is not a sport. I also seem to end all of my sentences with the phrase "not a sport". Perhaps I'm subconsciously trying to reinforce the idea that chess is not a sport. Who knows . . . knowing, also not a sport.

Fishing is a sport because it requires tactics to hook the fish and strength to reel it in. The same goes for darts. Tactics for which part you want to hit (beginning and ending on the double ring, IIRC), and control over your arm muscles to get the dart exactly where you want it.

To summarize, sports require two things: a mental component & a physical component. The mental component can be as simple as skill at allowed techniques, or as complicated as outthinking an opponent. The physical component can be as simple as plain brawn playing a part, or as delicate as good aim.

That said, some video games might actually qualify as a sport, if only barely on the physical aspect (aim for the correct buttons?). But Olympic? Hell no. For the same reason that fishing, darts, et al. are not an Olympic sport. They're not physical enough. Video game competitions are excellent, just as there are fishing competitions, sailing competitions, and dart tournaments. But not in the Olympics. At least, not until they master complete VR immersion. When you're actually performing the actions yourself rather than mashing buttons, competitive killing will be a big hit in the Olympics.

 

From what I know, chess players have regular trainings like other sporstmen or they wouldn't be able to deal with the professional chess matches. It requires some great condition physically as well.

Unfortunately, Warcraft III qualifies as a sport nowadays more than even a real time strategy games. Does "micro" say anything to you? It's short for micromanagement. Those kids sometimes reach 160 actions per minute. In a strategy game.

[ June 01, 2006, 23:30: Message edited by: chevalier ]

 

Actually, all that really matters for the Olympics is whether or not enough people will want to watch it.

 

Very cynical, HB.

This should not happen... video games is fun, but it is not a sport. As Fel said, if fishing (which is a sport) or darts is not in the Olypmics, video games should not be either. Except maybe DDR...

 

Baseball is getting kicked out of the Olympics and they are talking about putting video gaming in? Oh good grief.

Well, if video gaming makes it into the Olympics then I say we start lobbying to get pie eating or hot dog eating included too.

 

Oh yes. And let's not forget hand-writing for SCA Olympics.