{"id":537,"date":"2020-09-30T11:37:37","date_gmt":"2020-09-30T11:37:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gameranswers.com\/?p=537"},"modified":"2021-07-30T09:42:48","modified_gmt":"2021-07-30T09:42:48","slug":"are-video-games-considered-as-a-sport","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gameranswers.com\/are-video-games-considered-as-a-sport\/","title":{"rendered":"Are Video Games Considered as a Sport in 2021?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Playing video games might look like you are just sitting in front of a screen and pressing some buttons. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And this observation makes a lot of people argue that video games should not be considered a sport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, there are actually more than just sitting and pressing buttons that make video games a legitimate sport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I firmly believe video games should be considered a sport because there are many aspects to video games that match what the general public traditionally label as a sport.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let me share my reasoning on this question with you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Are Video Games Considered Sport?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The question of whether video games are a true sport has been a long debated topic for many years. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

With the rise in popularity of esports, more people are taking notice to the fact that video games can require just as much skill as any other sport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

First of all, I would like to begin with a definition of what a sport is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to the Oxford dictionary<\/a>, a sport is An activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another or others for entertainment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meanwhile, the Cambridge dictionary<\/a> states that a sport is a game, competition, or activity needing physical effort and skill that is played or done according to rules, for enjoyment, and\/or as a job.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you’re someone who plays video games a lot, just by reading the definition of the word sport, you can conclude easily that video games should be considered a sport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Firstly, many video games involve the use of skill and strategy, which requires a certain amount of mental exertion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Also read: Do Gaming Mousepads Matter in 2020?<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many video games, such as first-person shooters and sports games, require dedication and have a certain amount of physical exertion. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

While other games, such as role-playing games<\/a>, require players to use their minds and mental skills. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like how people thought that chess<\/a> is just a game, after years of practice and dedication became an Olympic Sport that is recognized by the International Olympic Committee in 1999.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Playing video games also requires some form of physical activity, even if it is just sitting in a chair and playing a video game. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The player must have an adequate amount of physical ability to play the game, such as quick reflexes or the ability to press certain buttons at a fast pace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Secondly, many video games are played in a competitive manner against other people. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are many different types of video games that could be considered a sport because they are played competitively.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

First-person shooters games such as Fortnite and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive are very popular online and have online leagues where people compete against each other. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other types of games, such as racing games or sports games like FIFA, also have an online following and have tournaments that people participate in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

DOTA 2, a Multiplayer Online Battle Arena video games, is very popular because it is played competitively worldwide and known to have the largest prize money in the video games industry at a whopping $34 Million.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Esports<\/strong>, as an industry itself, is a huge industry that will only get bigger and bigger in the future. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Large, traditional sports team like football clubs are now building their own esports team to compete in the video games industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For example, Paris Saint-German<\/strong>, one of the top football club in the world now have PSG Esports<\/a>, the club Esports department that is founded to compete in various video games competition around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Not only the sports club but competitive sports league around the world also launched a video game competition in the past couple of years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

English Premier League<\/strong>, the highest-ranked football division in England, launched ePremier League<\/a> back in 2019 where FIFA video games players in the region can compete professionally to win titles and prize money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These professional players lead me to my third reason of why Video Games should be considered a sport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Just like any other sports that are played competitively, there are also professional athletes<\/strong> that compete within the video games and Esports industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These professional esports athletes also have coaches, practices daily, and participate in tournaments and competition around the world against other teams of players.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sounds like a regular athlete from typical sports, right?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I remember how people have dreams of becoming professional football or basketball players in the past. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

These days more and more people are dreaming of becoming professional gamers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In some video games such as Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, some professional players make their living by just playing this game.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, to be a professional player, one must have specific skills to outplay and outsmart their opponents. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

These skills include but are not limited to: <\/p>\n\n\n\n