OPINION: Video games entering the Olympic games?
Sophomore Kaleb Collom plays Overwatch, an eSports game that could be in the Olympics.
Adam Kelly, Animation Curator
Competitive video gaming may be added to the roster of sports in the 2024 Olympics. Also known as eSports, the possibility it could become a medal sport in the games raises questions among fans on both sides.
Paris, France is hoping to get their city to be the next location for the future Olympic games and workers of the committee are not opposed to the idea. Tony Estanguet, co-president of the Paris bid committee stated plans to talk with the International Olympic Committee and eSports representatives to put this plan into action. Events like drone racing would be included in the games.
For readers interested in eSports, there are multiple video games people play competitively. The most common genres are multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) and real-time strategy games. League of Legends is an example of the former and is the most popular video game played competitively with millions of viewers each match. Professional tournaments receive live broadcasts year-round with prize money for competitors.
Competitions for video games have been held for years but it wasn’t until 2010 and later on when it saw an increase in fans and companies wanting to invest in the idea. Statistics stated that up to 70 million people worldwide watched eSports, but the number has jumped to 400 million in 2016 and it continues to increase.
eSports collected over $130 million in revenue and is expected to reach under half a billion by the end of 2017. Gamers make money outside of competitions as well by live streaming casual games. Most use the video game streaming service Twitch, and add to their annual salary by streaming each week.
Similar to websites like GoFundMe and Patreon, viewers can subscribe and donate to their favorite streamers. By doing this, gamers will give fans shout outs or special benefits for subscribing to them each month.
With all of these large numbers being thrown out there, don’t be surprised when you read that some gamers will receive $1,000 donations simply by playing a video game in the comfort of their bedroom.
The most surprising aspect of eSports is viewership. People that aren’t avid gamers don’t understand the satisfaction of spectating the so-called “sport.” Workers of the arena build a stage for the gamers to play and leave the rest open for seating.
Fans are content with looking up at huge screens displaying their favorite video games while someone else plays them. This confuses people outside of the gaming world, but fans on the inside seeing nothing wrong with it. And many are all for video games becoming an Olympic sport.
Senior marketing major Ben Withman said, “Drone racing is an upcoming sport. It’s new and different and it feeds to a different target market than the athletic type. Racing drones are on a different level. It’s definitely interesting.”
Sophomore criminal justice major, Julia Devine added, “It’s not all about size and muscle. It requires hand eye-coordination as well and I’m all for it as a sport in the games.”
As someone who plays video games casually rather than competitively, I am glad eSports have emerged and gotten more popular over the years. Competitions have become more professional and gaming is starting to look legitimate. And although I wouldn’t say it equates to athletic sports, it should be taken seriously.
On the subject of eSports being included in the Olympic Games, this is where I draw the line. Equation and inclusion are on two different sides of the spectrum. Athletic sports have such high priority that video games should be seen equally in terms of professionalism, but I don’t see the need of adding them into the Olympics.
The training and planning that goes into Olympic sports differs from both athletic sports and eSports. It stands on its own as a huge event people look forward to every four years. It stays in its own lane, and I think video games should stay in their own as well.
eSports has grown exponentially in the past decade, and it continues to rise. If it was included in the games in the next eight years, I think it would receive more ridicule than it already does. People that immerse themselves in the gaming world continue to reap the benefits of the rate of eSports growth. The Olympics does its own thing and I think it should continue to do that.
While some student gamers are fans of the idea of eSports being included in the Olympics others disagree.
Sophomore interdisciplinary major, Kaleb Collom said, “For the Olympics, people have trained for years to make it to that point. Anyone can learn how to fly a drone in a year. It doesn’t seem as competitive as the other sports featured.”
Sophomore criminal justice major, Anne Zimmerman added, “It’s ridiculous. I know how to use technology. Now I can win a medal with this. Olympics are all about physical and athletic capability. You use more than just your thumbs to perform. eSports already have professional tournaments they don’t need to be added to the games.”
I’ve enjoyed seeing video games and the realm of eSports grow every year, but there are limits to every affiliation and association. The Olympics is one of them, and should remain untouched by the gaming industry.
The views and opinions expressed in this editorial are solely those of the original author(s) These views and opinions do not necessarily represent those of The Vision website or North Greenville University.
