Esports, short for electronic sports, are multiplayer video games that have become increasingly popular in recent years, leading people to ask the big question: are esports really sports? Some argue that esports are sports, with a strong fanbase and competition, while others argue esports have no grounds to be classified as a sport. The GH Falcon sat down with members of the Green Hope community to hear their thoughts on the matter.
Those who believe that esports should be considered a sport argue that people created sports to enjoy themselves and such activities do not have to be physical. Despite esports not always providing intense exercise, they still provide entertainment, the main characteristic of a good sport. To get a student’s perspective, the GH Falcon talked with Matthew Morrow (‘29), a freshman at Green Hope. He argued that, “Esports [are] very active and can keep you on your feet. Unlike any other sport, esports has many options you can choose from.” Since esports allow the participant to choose what game to play, players can choose to participate in games that promote physical activity. Morrow argues that this potential for exercise is enough to characterize esports as a true sport. However, not all of Green Hope High School shares this opinion.
Others believe esports are anything but true sports. With little to no physical exertion and a lack of athleticism required to succeed, critics of esports argue that they are no more than a hobby. The three main components a sport needs are physical exertion or skill, competition between players or teams and a defined set of rules that the competition has to follow. The GH Falcon sat down with the Green Hope athletic director, Robbie St. John for his thoughts on the topic. “I don’t consider esports a sport in the traditional sense of the word. While esports offers the ability to compete, as a team or individual, requires skill, and is organized,” he explained, “[esports] lack a physical component that is essential in differentiating sport from gym activity.” St. John holds many of the same ideals that others use to defer the actuality of E-sport as a sport. Liam Smith, a freshman at Green Hope also voiced his opinions, saying, ‘The physical definition of a sport is ‘an activity involving physical exertion.’ There are very few esports that actually need you to physically exert yourself. […] Esports like Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege are just gaming on a keyboard. They do not cause you to physically exert yourself.” Many people tend to agree on the definition of a sport, one that does not include esports as they rarely involve true physical activity.
In conclusion, how one chooses to classify esports varies largely depending on how they define a “sport.” While both arguments have merit, the fact remains that esports are supposed to be a fun and competitive activity, which they have become for many.
