The International Olympic Committee is considering adding video games as an Olympic event
I didn’t think I was seeing this correctly, but it is so and I am baffled. Being baffled drives my curiosity. I try to avoid being baffled because it makes me feel like Flounder in Animal House – you know, “fat, drunk and stupid”, (I live with the first 2 at times but being stupid is something I really strive to avoid). I’m trying to wrap my head around “Gamers” being athletic heroes on the Wheaties boxes wearing Gold, Silver and Bronze Bitcoins, but it’s just not sitting well with me.
I have always been a fan of the Olympics and I’ve enjoyed watching much of the recent winter games from PyeongChang. My Olympic awareness dates to Munich and Sapporo in 1972, and I have many strong memories from the past 40+ years. Munich introduced me to terrorism and burned the atrocities of the Black September group against the Israeli Olympians into my brain. Munich also put Mark Spitz and Olga Korbut into my memory banks. Franz Klammer’s downhill run at Innsbruck in 1976, the “Miracle on Ice” hockey game at Lake Placid in 1980, and the 1992 unstoppable US Basketball Dream Team in Barcelona are just a few of many other recollections I have.
Various sports events have been introduced over the years and remained, others have been removed. Some have been good additions, others not so much. It’s interesting (to me) to look at the events and participants of the games going all the way back to when the Modern Games began in 1896. There are a lot of unique events that are no longer part of the games. But it does seem that most have had something in common which included some sort of physicality and skill. “Games” like darts, chess, and croquet just don’t seem to fit the bill of an Olympic “event”. (It should be noted however that croquet was an Olympic competition in 1900.)
But video games, or “eSports” as they are also known? I know there are big competitions now and there’s big money going out to the winners. Um…that would make them professionals, right? This would continue to complicate the idea that the Olympics is an amateur competition, wouldn’t it? Of course we should all agree that’s not a real state of affairs in our world anymore – hasn’t been for a long time, what an ”amateur athlete” is in today’s world is not easy to define. It’s a bit sketchy if you ask me. So this adds to the sketchiness, there’s some serious money revolving around the industry. What seems is odd (or coincidental?) is that “competitive gaming” goes hand in hand with casinos in Vegas. Have you seen the “slot machines” today?
I understand now that there are collegiate level eSports teams and there’s recruiting going on for candidates, and kids are getting scholarships. Note I said candidates. It’s a challenge for me to say athletes. Sorry. I’ve asked a number of folks about this, sort of a poll, a very unofficial poll via social media, and I believe I successfully fended off any meddling from Russia to taint the polling outcome.
Six out of seven comments back were NOT in favor of video games / competitive gaming / eSports becoming an Olympic event. Feedback was generationally spread, from GenY to Boomers, and they all said much the same:
“I say no … It’s entirely different! I understand the argument…but it’s just not a sport, IMHO. It’s just not a traditional sport”
“Somehow it doesn’t seem to fit with the faster, stronger, higher philosophy…”
“I don’t see why video games, in their current state, should be in the Olympics for the same reason that chess shouldn’t be. It’s purely a mental display of skill while the Olympics are traditionally a display of physical prowess.”
“I’m not saying I want them to add it but just pointing out that I think it is a sport, so it could be considered. Of course, I don’t want my boys to say “but dad, I want to keep playing Minecraft, I’m training for the Olympics!””
“They can make a Ponglympics if they want to, but the real Olympics has to be reserved for athletic sports.”
“If video games get in the Olympics, then I’m voting for Professional Beer Drinking, Beer Pong, that’d be my game”
The one supporting comment came from a former colleague:
“It’s not just strength and endurance (in the Olympics). Many Olympics sports display warrior skills from different time periods: martial arts, fencing, horseback riding;
- Classical Greece: Javelin, Wrestling
- Late-19th-century soldier skills: Pentathlon
- Modern snipers: Biathlon
Therefore why not include something using computers for today’s cyber warfare? How about a StarCraft duel to measure reflexes and quick-thinking?”
Much has been written of late about this – maybe just to fill pages and meet deadlines – but hey, I’m blahging on about it too (see what I did there?). Recent headline: “eSports are real sports” and “eSports could be medal event at 2014 Olympics, Paris bid team says”. (I’ve put a few links to articles I found on the topic at the end of this writing.)
I mentioned above about events that have been added and removed. Here’s a few that I found interesting, unique, or just plain wacky:
- Tug of War (removed after 1920)…why not? This one seems to meet all requirements, and what school field day is not complete with a tug of war?
- Rhythmic Gymnastics (in since 1988). With the “apparatuses” being “ball, hoop, rope, ribbon, and clubs” – no offense to these participants, but I watch it and I feel like I’m at either a circus or a Las Vegas show.
- Solo Synchronized Swimming (last seen in Barcelona in 1992). Are you kidding? One person in the water synchronizing what, artful bubble blowing from the nose? I’m laughing at this and maybe I shouldn’t be, but how does one become synchronized in a solo fashion? It’s a riddle wrapped in a mysterious enigma or something like that…
- Ski Ballet (demo sport in ’88 and ’92). This one was a fun one, huh? It kind of fit the time I guess (note the ski suits they wore). https://www.nbcolympics.com/video/lost-art-ski-ballet
If video gaming makes its way into the Olympics, well then I say bring back Croquet, it might give me a chance to qualify…just sayin’.
Stay tuned, there will be more. I promise.
– Cary
Email: carynoel1@gmail.com
Twittter: @carynoel1
Links to real journalism about video games in the Olympics:
eSports are real sports. It’s time for the Olympic video games
Olympic medals for video gamers? It could happen, sooner than you think