Written by: Nicholas Sarysz

As technology continues to advance, so does the world of gaming. Esports, or electronic sports, have taken the world by storm and it has become a billion-dollar industry. The rise of esports has sparked the debate of whether it is actually a sport.

Professional players and teams compete against one another in a variety of video games as part of esports. These contests can be held live or online and they can range in size from small regional competitions to major worldwide events like the League of Legends World Championship. 

Over the past ten years, esports has experienced exponential growth, attracting millions of viewers to watch their favorite teams and players compete.

Esports proponents cite that, like traditional sports, it incorporates competition and calls for skill and strategy as evidence that it qualifies as a sport. Esports athletes need to have exceptional hand-eye coordination and be able to react and adapt quickly under pressure. 

Like conventional sports, esports demands a lot of repetition and training. Professional esports players frequently spend hours each day developing their abilities. 

We are likely going to see gaming evolve even further into the sports world, as it may even become an Olympic sport in the future since the International Olympic Committee has already recognized esports as a legitimate competitive activity.
Frankly, I feel that a “competitive activity” is all it should be labeled as. Just because there are people engaging in competition, does not make something a sport. Furthermore, spending time honing a craft does not make something a sport, as that can be done with any hobby — not to mention that’s also how jobs work.

Esports also lacks any true physical component to be labeled as a true sport. While esports players certainly require mental and physical dexterity, their activities don’t require the same level of physical exertion as traditional sports. 

There is no denying how incredibly powerful the esports industry has become — given it is now over a billion dollar industry — but to say that these competitive gamers are athletes is comical and blatantly disrespectful to the passion and work ethic that traditional athletes have.

Contact the author at howlstaffwriter@wou.edu