The boomer question: Is eSport a sport?
The notion of eSport sparks interesting debates especially when it comes to whether it belongs in the category of sports competitions. Despite the fact that millions of people are involved in it, there are currents of opinion that leak out several theories. For some, gaming cannot meet the standards required to be recognised as a real sport. For others, this statement is completely wrong, as there is much evidence of similarities between the two disciplines.
eSport: what you need to know beforehand
eSport is an English-speaking term for electronic sport in English. It refers to a discipline of competitive games that are played on the Internet between two teams. Each team can consist of one or more members.
The history of eSport
The first eSport competitions were organised in the 1970s in the USA. It must be said that eSports already existed at that time, but in a different form. It was the advent of the Internet in the early 1990s that revolutionised the concept. Very quickly, we witnessed the creation of large centres of interest such as the Cyberathlete Professional League. These had a huge influence on the professional activities of the teams by establishing the first rules of the game.
In 2014, the US State Department recognised the first major professional eSports players. The decision opens the doors to players competing in world tournaments including the famous League of legends game competition. Over the years, other events have not hesitated to extend the colours of eSport, which is making its mark in the arena of major sporting events.
Focus on the major characteristics of eSport
Just like classic sports, eSports games have specific features built in.
- An impeccable visibility: it takes into account the rendering of the graphics. Indeed, the video game must allow the spectators to grasp all the actions of a tournament in great detail. Otherwise, the game would not be worth following.
- Easy to understand game principles: Electronic games are generally easy to understand, which favours their mastery. However, there are games that are oriented towards the principle of "5 minutes to learn, but a lifetime to master".
- An absence of the chance factor: esport games put more emphasis on the talent of the competitors. No member is betting on his or her team's victory on luck.
- Reflection and patience.
- Good team coordination.
Other characteristics also exist, such as dexterity, suspense, vigilance, etc.
eSport vs. sport: two disciplines that are similar
Despite their parallel evolution, mainstream sport and eSport share commonalities in various aspects.
On the competitive aspect
Both sports involve the notion of competition. Whether preparing for a football match or an Overwatch tournament, working on your performance is a must. The idea of improving one's strengths inescapably refers to regular training. The professional eSport player can therefore work on his gestural movements and skills to save time during competitions. The same process can be found in classical sports when a tennis player learns to master his throwing game.
On the appearance of the show
Another similarity between the two sports is the entertainment aspect. Indeed, e-sports create a crazy atmosphere during championships. Millions of fans do not hesitate to connect to live intense moments of action in streaming. Better still, in the world of eSports, professional gamers are rightly recognised and decorated in the same way as sports athletes.
eSport vs. sport: focus on the differences
The difference between real and electronic sport can be seen in the physical and brain activity.
Obviously, the former requires quite intense physical activity (training and official matches) that can last for several hours. The body of a professional athlete is used to a regular and strict lifestyle. To this end, professionals may be found with a massive or muscular body from hard training. For example, a shot putter develops arm and leg muscles for his performances, which is not the case for a gamer.
eSport does not require as much physical activity. It is played on a screen. Therefore, the gamer does not need to perform a series of push-ups or extensive training before competing. The work that the gamer does is essentially gestural. Unlike real sports where training is programmed to build up the body, gamers can train every day, like an addiction.
On the other hand, some eSport players believe that video game sport requires a cerebral and mental performance that is not always found in traditional sport. Such a statement is understandable when you look at some strategic games like CS: GO or Fortnite. It would therefore be normal not to restrict this unique discipline to a box.
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