Could eSports Have an Olympic Future?

No. If they want e-sports in an event, they need to create an e-sports Olympics. The physical and mental conditioning Olympic athletes go through to be the best is far more intense and grueling. Sitting on your butt in front of a screen simply doesn't compare and doesn't deserve the prestige of being a real Olympic event.
 
I really hope not. I can appreciate what Nissan have been trying to do with the GT Academy, taking skills developed in the digital arena and turning it into athletic ability. But given that the games that are popular in eSports - like League of Legends - don't have an equivalent real-world skill, I don't think that it would be appropriate for them to be in the Olympics.
 
celtiscorpion73
If they want e-sports in an event, they need to create an e-sports Olympics.
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If The Guiness Book of Records can create an annual edition dealing solely with video gaming, then surely the IOC (or someone similar) could create an event fir eSports.
 
In 30 year sure but not any time soon. I say the future since somethings could be reproduced by computers. Something like trap shooting could make the jump to digital. I don't see counter strike making it making it anytime in the near future.
 
prisonermonkeys
I really hope not. I can appreciate what Nissan have been trying to do with the GT Academy, taking skills developed in the digital arena and turning it into athletic ability. But given that the games that are popular in eSports - like League of Legends - don't have an equivalent real-world skill, I don't think that it would be appropriate for them to be in the Olympics.
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Playing League of Legends is a real world skill, just not one of athleticism.

As the Olympics are currently about athleticism, esports would certainly be an odd fit. But I think we should definitely celebrate mental feats just as much (if not moreso) than physical ones, so I wouldn't mind seeing them included in the Olympics... if only because a separate "olympics for intelligence" would probably flop.

That being said... if a separate event could succeed, then that'd probably be the best course of action. But I personally wouldn't be upset if the Olympics simply decided they wanted to expand beyond just athletic events.
 
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They've had Olympic events involving sitting down before:



And whilst this is entertaining it's no more Olympic worthy than virtual racing imho:



Hmmm, perhaps the ancient greeks might have enjoyed it though...
 
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daan
Not the point of this thread though, is it?
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Well, I think that buildings facilities, costs, and awards and medals costs are an important issue to increase or not with new sports in Olympic games, like esports if they come into it...

I'd prefer that esports continue to be only private financed and not public financed as the Olympic games are.
 
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There is an interesting undercurrent to this too.

Think of an Olympic event and you think of something that is a person using their skills, strength and specialist knowledge against other people's skills, strength and specialist knowledge in a natural environment as judged by rules laid out by the International Olympic Committee. NHL doesn't set the rules for Olympic ice hockey, FIFA doesn't set the rules for Olympic association football, PGA doesn't set the rules for Olympic golf and the IAAF doesn't set the rules for Olympic athletics...

... but EA will set the rules for Olympic FIFA 2017.
 
dbarrade
They've had Olympic events involving sitting down before:

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Have you ever rode dressage or any other english style horseback? Because if you did, you would realize its not just sitting down. There is a lot of core, legs and shoulders that go into it.

On topic, I believe that eSports should be not be rolled up into the Olympic sports.
 
Screw any IOC and similar organised events.

I think eSports is mature enough and deserve to have it's annual global competition format like UEFA Champions League (or tennis Davis Cup/Fed Cup). Makes more business sense for sponsorships and partnerships.
 
VenomDan
Have you ever rode dressage or any other english style horseback? Because if you did, you would realize its not just sitting down. There is a lot of core, legs and shoulders that go into it.
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Is that why some of the participants are pensioners?
 
GOTMAXPOWER
Is that why some of the participants are pensioners?
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Horse riding, and dressage requires a lot of work, effort and energy. Irrespective of age controlling a horse is difficult and very physical! When I was younger I did weaponry, and then did horse riding later in the day, horse riding required far more energy than weaponry did..

What's the true definition of the Olympics going forward would be a question? Robotics and A.I. is growing all the time, do they then get their own events in the Olympics in the future? Personally, I think a separate global event for eSports would be far more beneficial than being apart of the Olympics. FIFA vs a Football Olympic Match in spectacle and atmosphere I can imagine the Olympic match winning in most situations.

A global eSports event with multiple disciplines, games and competitions would have it's own unique atmosphere and 1 I would happily go to!
 
celtiscorpion73
The physical and mental conditioning Olympic athletes go through to be the best is far more intense and grueling. Sitting on your butt in front of a screen simply doesn't compare and doesn't deserve the prestige of being a real Olympic event.
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Nope. Shooting. Archery.

Both benefit from physical conditioning, but have far more in common with the fine motor skills and control necessary for e-sports.

If you think that professional esports is just sitting your butt in front of a screen, you're wrong. Top esports professionals work as hard as anyone.
 
Lol at eSports being in the Olympics. For starters there are too many things out of your control such as crashes, bugs and glitches. Then there is the question of what game\s should be used. I love gaming but i think it's ridiculous for gamers to put ourselves on that Olympic pedestal.


Oh You're an Olympian are you? What you win gold in?

Olympian: I scored 3 sweatties to win the EA FIFA Olympic final.

I'd be embarrassed to have this conversation with a real competitor.
 
Famine
NHL doesn't set the rules for Olympic ice hockey,

... but EA will set the rules for Olympic FIFA 2017.
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The NHL doesn't even want to take part anymore...

What happens if EA were to decide to revoke the use of their game as an 'eSport'? The headaches it would cause would be pretty big. All the issue with dealing with external parties to host the games that would be used in an Olympics event like you've pointed out.
 
There are too many sports in the Olympics already, and too many that shouldn't be in it. It's bad enough as it is with the legit sports that test Man and Woman like cycling and swimming that use technology to gain an advantage ( i have a massive issue with this ), bikes and swim wear should be standard Olympic issue. Now you wanna go chuck Donkey Kong into the mix.
 
There is too much variety to have esports becoming a part of the Olympics. I'd say Olympics is for sports like running and jumping etc. However, a separate esport Olympics would have games like Madden, FIFA and Project CARS to name a few.
 
Lain
Playing League of Legends is a real world skill, just not one of athleticism.

As the Olympics are currently about athleticism, esports would certainly be an odd fit. But I think we should definitely celebrate mental feats just as much (if not moreso) than physical ones, so I wouldn't mind seeing them included in the Olympics... if only because a separate "olympics for intelligence" would probably flop.

That being said... if a separate event could succeed, then that'd probably be the best course of action. But I personally wouldn't be upset if the Olympics simply decided they wanted to expand beyond just athletic events.
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All physical feats are already simultaneously mental feats (example Shaq lacking mental composure to consistently hit free throws).
 
In my opinion there shouldn't be esports at olympics - instead it'll be better to make a separate olympic-format event for them ( just like World Cyber Games in the past ) and set that event for ex. every year/ two years at September ( so it wouldnt conflict with other premier tournaments ).
 
Tidgney
Horse riding, and dressage requires a lot of work, effort and energy. Irrespective of age controlling a horse is difficult and very physical! When I was younger I did weaponry, and then did horse riding later in the day, horse riding required far more energy than weaponry did..

What's the true definition of the Olympics going forward would be a question? Robotics and A.I. is growing all the time, do they then get their own events in the Olympics in the future? Personally, I think a separate global event for eSports would be far more beneficial than being apart of the Olympics. FIFA vs a Football Olympic Match in spectacle and atmosphere I can imagine the Olympic match winning in most situations.

A global eSports event with multiple disciplines, games and competitions would have it's own unique atmosphere and 1 I would happily go to!
Click to expand...

I imagine the argument for rolling eSports into the Olympics would be the massive levels of global exposure. Having a dedicated "eSports Olympics" would probably draw a tiny fraction of the views the actual Games do. Crucially, it's probably less appealing to sponsors, too.

As much as some parties want to crow about the future of eSports, it's still very much a niche thing compared to traditional sports. Our local hockey team finally made it to the playoffs and it's transformed this entire city — I really doubt Average Joe will get all worked up about a League of Legends upset match.
 
lancia delta hf
There are too many sports in the Olympics already, and too many that shouldn't be in it. It's bad enough as it is with the legit sports that test Man and Woman like cycling and swimming that use technology to gain an advantage ( i have a massive issue with this ), bikes and swim wear should be standard Olympic issue. Now you wanna go chuck Donkey Kong into the mix.
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Too many that miss out too, in my opinion. I'm always disappointed to see that Squash isn't an Olympic sport given how highly competitive it is. The main blocker is how popular it is from a spectator POV and how many athletes are actually recognizable and marketable (read: none).
 
SlipZtrEm
Having a dedicated "eSports Olympics" would probably draw a tiny fraction of the views the actual Games do.
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Case in point: The image I used to illustrate the story is from the 7th eSports World Championship. And that was held two years ago.
 
The Olympics is already too bloated with sports that have a major tournament outside of the Olympics, the cost of hosting the games is ridiculous as it is, they need less events not more.

eSports is here to stay and i'm sure one day ill tune in to watch a racing event, but it shouldn't be an Olympic event any more than Chess or Speed Xmas wrapping.
 

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