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Video Games Won't Be Part of the Paris Olympics (fortune.com)

Posted by msmash on from the tough-luck dept.

The Olympic Games regularly add new events, but officials aren't quite ready to embrace eSports. From a report: This weekend, the International Olympic Committee met for the 7th Olympic Summit, where competitive video gaming was among the topics of discussion. The verdict? It's still "premature" to discuss including them in the Olympic games. That's bound to be disappointing to supporters, who had hoped for a breakthrough in the 2024 Paris games. Tony Estanguet, co-president of the Paris Olympic committee, is a proponent of bringing video games to the Olympics.

3 of 220 comments (clear)

  1. Good ... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    OK, sure ... video games, er, ''eSports" is a skill.

    But, seriously, let's not start pretending like this is on the same level as the lifetime of commitment that actual Olympic athletes have put in to get where they are.

    I'm sorry the little nerdlings won't get to compete in the Olympics, but in no way do I think playing a video game is on par with the actual athletes competing in the Olympics.

    This is dumb in my opinion. I refuse to consider pro gamers as 'athletes'

    1. Re:Good ... by lgw · · Score: 1, Insightful

      There is still generally a convention that almost all Olympic sports involve some form of athleticism.

      So? There are already non-athletic events, and were more in the past. Meh, it's a business and will calculate what will draw the biggest paying crowd, and highest TV licensing rights. Clearly e-sports aren't there yet.

      --
      Socialism: a lie told by totalitarians and believed by fools.
  2. What games? by jellomizer · · Score: 4, Insightful

    The part of eSports that is the biggest problem for the likes of the Olympics is the standardization on what game(s) to play, and how soon will that game be too old to be interesting to watch anymore. Having it every 4 years (or 2 if you want it both summer and winter) usually will mean the game playing would either be out of date, or the athletes will always be playing something where they are not at their peak with. Games that are 8, 12, 16 years old are less on the eSports list.
    However I do think it would be hilarious if these were open internet games, and during the Olympics the Gold metal hopeful gets shot down by some kid camping out and got a lucky shot.

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