The German Olympic Sports Confederation President Doesn't Believe Esports Exist

[killerjimbag]

Not saying this to prove or disprove anything, just saying something I've learned some time ago: competing at first person shooter-based esports on the top level is a good way really wear your fingers by the age 25.
(source - a former top-tier esports player from this very exampe)

Right,just like getting hit with a 100 MPH fastball in the head. Or a 95 MPH slapshot off your ankle. Yeah sounds similar.

 

[SiriusR]

Right,just like getting hit with a 100 MPH fastball in the head. Or a 95 MPH slapshot off your ankle. Yeah sounds similar.

An injury doesn't have to be severe.
Besides, any high-level sport is surprisingly unhealthy. Measuring, however, which one can do more harm to you, is just silly. I'm not going to like one sport more than another because a sportsman is more likely to break their leg or nose in it.

 

[killerjimbag]

An injury doesn't have to be severe.
Besides, any high-level sport is surprisingly unhealthy. Measuring, however, which one can do more harm to you, is just silly. I'm not going to like one sport more than another because a sportsman is more likely to break their leg or nose in it.

Ok,so you get carpeltunnel or a blister on your fingers in E Sports what else can you possibly get? Bloody nose from someone throwing a controller at you? Having played hockey,baseball,football and lacrosse at high levels there is way more possibilities of injury in those "sports" than anything in E Sports.

 

[SiriusR]

Ok,so you get carpeltunnel or a blister on your fingers in E Sports what else can you possibly get? Bloody nose from someone throwing a controller at you? Having played hockey,baseball,football and lacrosse at high levels there is way more possibilities of injury in those "sports" than anything in E Sports.

I'll be totally honest, saying that certain kinds of sport are better than the others because it's more likely to give you bad injuries is the most :censored:ed up thing I've heard in this thread. Glorifying sports over injuries is a very, very horrible taste.

 

[Joey D]

Injuries are probably one reason why more and more young people are getting in esports. With all the research regarding CTE now, it seems like a more intelligent choice to do something that doesn't have a high risk of concussion. And now with some universities having varsity esports teams and offering scholarships, it makes it just that more appealing.

 

[killerjimbag]

I'll be totally honest, saying that certain kinds of sport are better than the others because it's more likely to give you bad injuries is the most :censored:ed up thing I've heard in this thread. Glorifying sports over injuries is a very, very horrible taste.

Yes like my daughter who runs track and pulls her hamstring. Or a football player getting turf toe. E Sports is only sport in the name. There is absolutely no athleticism in E Sports.

 

[SiriusR]

Injuries are probably one reason why more and more young people are getting in esports. With all the research regarding CTE now, it seems like a more intelligent choice to do something that doesn't have a high risk of concussion. And now with some universities having varsity esports teams and offering scholarships, it makes it just that more appealing.

More than that - lower risk of injuries might encourage taking more risky actions, which would make the competition more tense and interesting to watch - that would benefit both competition and spectators respectively. Nice example would be virtual motorsport.

There is absolutely no athleticism in E Sports.

Where is it said that athleticism requires receiving injuries?

 

[WyldAnimal]

I don't know if you're just trying to prove a point of if that's an honest suggestion of something they should do. Why not just play real soccer? That makes absolutely no sense. Why convert everything to to a VR simulation just for the sake of doing it?

E-Sports are a sport by every definition of sport. Whether your running 10Km a match in real football or moving your thumbs to operate a joystick playing FIFA 19 Online, by definition you are exerting yourself physically, the thumbpads do not move themselves. Categorizing them as "E" Sport is much the same as how they categorize organized racing as "Motor"sport. It's not the human doing most of the labor but the machine. The labor is done by either a computer engine or combustion engine. the point is, it's a different class of sport.

Does the IOC need to jump on the E-Sport bandwagon to cash in in the popularity and make a few bucks? Probably.

Do I want to see E-Sports on the same stage as the finest physical specimens on the planet? No, that would be a joke.

If they do anything it should and most likely will be a separate competition, much like the Paralympics.


A bit OT but:
The only sport I could see making any sense being converted to a VR E-Sport would be motorsport. The amount of money it costs IRL is just insane, so a VR rig and racing set-up is much more economical. No repairs, no fuel, no shipping a heavy vehicle around the world, no expensive tracks etc. Oh and not to mention the serious possibility of death.


EDIT: For reference sake the definition of sport is as follows:
sport
Dictionary result for sport
/spôrt/
noun

1. 1.
   an activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another or others for entertainment.
   "team sports such as baseball and soccer"
   synonyms: (competitive) game(s), physical recreation, physical activity, physical exercise;
   pastime
   "he takes part in a variety of sports"

physical exertion should not be confused with over-exertion. Exertion doesn't mean you have to be sweating profusely and barely able to breath. Exertion by definition is simply the application of force, as I said, thumbpads don't move themselves.

You can't be serious that you would remotely consider thumb action on a control pad, the same type of physical exertion as would be experienced in a real life sport.

"A typical day of training
I wake up every morning at 4:30am, Put on my slippers and favorite pajamas, Slowly I make my way down the stairs. I down a dozen raw eggs and a protein shake for breakfast.
and then it's off to the sofa.
I start with a dozen overhead reps. Lift the control Up, hold it for 3 seconds, then put it down again.
This is to avoid arm fatigue. that controller gets heavy after an couple hours.
I lock in my thumbs with custom designed thumb bands. and do 1000 reps each, Left, Right, Left, Right, Left, Right. 1000 times and repeat.
I practice my deep breaths. In and hold.... exhale... in the critical moments, you have to hold you breath to be as smooth as possible.
one jitter and it's game over"

 

[killerjimbag]

More than that - lower risk of injuries might encourage taking more risky actions, which would make the competition more tense and interesting to watch - that would benefit both competition and spectators respectively. Nice example would be virtual motorsport.


Where is it said that athleticism requires receiving injuries?

Have you actually ever participated in any kind of sports? Arm gets sore from throwing a ball,legs get sore from running or kicking. Body parts get sore,bruised from boxing. That would be considered an injury.

 

[HERE4BEER3]

You can't be serious that you would remotely consider thumb action on a control pad, the same type of physical exertion as would be experienced in a real life sport.

"A typical day of training
I wake up every morning at 4:30am, Put on my slippers and favorite pajamas, Slowly I make my way down the stairs. I down a dozen raw eggs and a protein shake for breakfast.
and then it's off to the sofa.
I start with a dozen overhead reps. Lift the control Up, hold it for 3 seconds, then put it down again.
This is to avoid arm fatigue. that controller gets heavy after an couple hours.
I lock in my thumbs with custom designed thumb bands. and do 1000 reps each, Left, Right, Left, Right, Left, Right. 1000 times and repeat.
I practice my deep breaths. In and hold.... exhale... in the critical moments, you have to hold you breath to be as smooth as possible.
one jitter and it's game over"

HAHA.

No it's not the same type of exertion, but by DEFINITION it is exerion.

If sport is defined as follows:

an activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another or others for entertainment.

And exertion can be defined as follows:

physical or mental effort.

the application of a force, influence, or quality.

Moving the thumpad is an application of force. Is running the same as walking? Is throwing a baseball the same as shotput? Shooting is a sport, all you do is pull the trigger.

It's the same argument about motorsport. People would refuse to call it a sport because it was all about the car. But it's a different class of sport. The Olympics has Athletics, Ice Sport, Snow Sport, Equine Sport, Combat Sport, Water Sport, Paddle Sport etc.

I am not saying I want it in the Olympics but I don't have a problem with people calling it E-Sport, it's own class of sport.

You can't define sport by how tired you get going the activity. Ronaldo can play a hard 10 minutes of football and not break a sweat and keep steady breaths, I'd play those same 10 minutes of football and be sweating and breathing heavy.

 

[factchecker]

I agree with him, "e-sports" is nothing more than a fad. It works in gullible asian countries, but not so much in the west.

 

[Silver Arrows]

I agree with him, "e-sports" is nothing more than a fad. It works in gullible asian countries, but not so much in the west.

Man, there's some racism dripping from this comment. How the hell are Asian countries 'gullible' for accepting e-sports?

Plus you know, the West, specifically the youth in the West, are accepting e-sports in record numbers, but sure, lets just make thinly veiled generalizations.

 

[factchecker]

Man, there's some racism dripping from this comment. How the hell are Asian countries 'gullible' for accepting e-sports?

Plus you know, the West, specifically the youth in the West, are accepting e-sports in record numbers, but sure, lets just make thinly veiled generalizations.

You're the one who brought up race, not me. I know it's all that you liberals think about, but try not to.

 

[Silver Arrows]

You're the one who brought up race, not me. I know it's all that you liberals think about, but try not to.

And you're the one that called people in Asia 'gullible' for accepting e-sports. So, iterate on that point.

Otherwise, you're either a racist, or you're trolling. Considering how you went straight to calling me a liberal, I'm guessing the former.

 

[ImaRobot]

And you're the one that called people in Asia 'gullible' for accepting e-sports. So, iterate on that point.

Otherwise, you're either a racist, or you're trolling. Considering how you went straight to calling me a liberal, I'm guessing the former.

 

[TexRex]

I'm just going to put this here...

 

[Silver Arrows]

Don't knock curling, alright. It's big bucks here in Canada.

 

[TexRex]

Don't knock curling, alright. It's big bucks here in Canada.

Yeah, about that...

 

[nostradavor2]

Well as someone who is in sports management, I agree with him. It's ridiculous to put word gaming and sports in the same context. World really gone mad. You can't compare for example professional swimmer to someone who is good in playing games. How? Why?

 

[lancia delta hf]

Well as someone who is in sports management, I agree with him. It's ridiculous to put word gaming and sports in the same context. World really gone mad. You can't compare for example professional swimmer to someone who is good in playing games. How? Why?

Has the world gone mad? Dont know, let's ask the women who are currently getting trounced in their sports by men calling themselves real women and then being called bigots for having a problem with their lifes work going down the pan. Calling people racist for a harmless comment is just silly too. The word racist, far right, Nazi have lost all their meaning thanks to being thrown around Willy nilly.

 

[nostradavor2]

Has the world gone mad? Dont know, let's ask the women who are currently getting trounced in their sports by men calling themselves real women and then being called bigots for having a problem with their lifes work going down the pan. Calling people racist for a harmless comment is just silly too. The word racist, far right, Nazi have lost all their meaning thanks to being thrown around Willy nilly.

If I understood you correctly, I agree with you 100%..According to modern world I am racist, nazi, chauvinist and much more

 

[Famine]

It's ridiculous to put word gaming and sports in the same context. You can't compare for example professional swimmer to someone who is good in playing games. How? Why?

In order to show that it's ridiculous, or that video games can't be sport, you'd need to define "sport" so that it encompasses all things you consider "sport", then explain how all video games are excluded from that definition.

I can't do that (I'd say that a sport is a competitive game, involving a trainable skill, physical dexterity or strength, and exertion), so I would classify some games which meet the definition of "sport" as sports.

 

[nostradavor2]

In order to show that it's ridiculous, or that video games can't be sport, you'd need to define "sport" so that it encompasses all things you consider "sport", then explain how all video games are excluded from that definition.

I can't do that (I'd say that a sport is a competitive game, involving a trainable skill, physical dexterity or strength, and exertion), so I would classify some games which meet the definition of "sport" as sports.

Ok.. I'll try to find my books in Olympism from University and similar to support my opinion. Even tho that was just my opinion because many other things are already "wrong".. I'm sure that Coubertin is rolling in his grave.

 

[MaxAttack]

As basically the most skilful guy to ever touch a controller (just try to kill me in halo 3, you ****ing pussy, i bet you don't even bumper jump) the phrase "e-sports" has always made and will always make me cringe.

The equivilancy just is not there. I don't care how hard your favourite CS:GO team tried to quit smoking weed to improve their play, they aren't sportsmen. Fraga or whoever never tore their ACL around Suzuka.

The essential problem is that the meta and balance of multiplayer games can and will change at the drop of a hat, making today's Michael Jordan into tomorrow's Brian Scalabrine until they learn how to exploit the new meta. The developer always remains in charge of the balance of the game, and what will and wont work is far too set in stone.

this would be like william webb-ellis coming back from the dead and saying forward passes are now legal in rugby union, and no one having a say in whether that's a good idea.

It probably doesn't help that most of the time I would rather watch paint dry than watch someone else earn money playing a video game, especially when literally no one alive is as skilled as I am. (Get stuck, pussy)

 

[Famine]

I'll try to find my books in Olympism from University and similar to support my opinion.

Did you need them to state your opinion?

I'm sure that Coubertin is rolling in his grave.

His first Olympics had nine sports. The current Olympics has 33. I'm not one to speak for dead people, but I'd imagine that there's something in the 24 extra sports - and indeed disciplines - that would reorient his corpse.

As would the fact that women are now allowed to compete, unlike in 1896, because he thought they would be uninteresting and "incorrect". I guess it was at least consistent with the Greek Olympics he was seeking to emulate, where women were only allowed to participate in equestrian events (not included in 1896). But I'm sure de Coubertin's 123-year old opinion is something we should give weight to in the discussion of esports...

 

[nostradavor2]

@Famine
Yes, I need them because if we don't build on the tradition and don't respect traditional values than you have circus as we have in many aspects of modern life already.
As someone above mentioned how can some pothead be an athlete because he has good skills with joystick in game in which developer remains in charge.
I wouldn't be surprised if someone asks for some type of porn to be part of sports also. Why not? Why should we have any values?
Idiocracy is not bad movie.

 

[MaxAttack]

@Famine
Yes, I need them because if we don't build on the tradition and don't respect traditional values than you have circus as we have in many aspects of modern life already.
As someone above mentioned how can some pothead be an athlete because he has good skills with joystick in game in which developer remains in charge.
I wouldn't be surprised if someone asks for some type of porn to be part of sports also. Why not? Why should we have any values?
Idiocracy is not bad movie.

"Competitive gaming" "simulated racing" oops, i fixed it

 

[Silver Arrows]

I wouldn't be surprised if someone asks for some type of porn to be part of sports also. Why not? Why should we have any values?
Idiocracy is not bad movie.

lol what an absolute whopper of a quote.

Some people can't wrap their heads around changes in sports, I guess.

 

[Joey D]

As basically the most skilful guy to ever touch a controller (just try to kill me in halo 3, you ****ing pussy, i bet you don't even bumper jump) the phrase "e-sports" has always made and will always make me cringe.

You seem charming.

Well as someone who is in sports management, I agree with him. It's ridiculous to put word gaming and sports in the same context. World really gone mad. You can't compare for example professional swimmer to someone who is good in playing games. How? Why?

Yes, a swimmer is probably more athletic than a gamer. But in the Olympics have always been about more than just purely athletic competitions. Shooting is probably the best example since there's not a ton of athletic ability involved, but it does require a ton of skill.

I wouldn't be surprised if someone asks for some type of porn to be part of sports also. Why not? Why should we have any values?

Google Sex Olympics....just not at work.

 

[MaxAttack]

You seem charming.

I'm a nice guy when you know me. My cocky brand of humour is an acquired taste. Halo 3 SWAT and Reach Multiteam do bad things to your brain, especially as a teenager. Oh, evade roll sticky on the back maneuver. Fond memories.