Esports is now considered too violent for the Olympics

[Greg S]

What just happened? Olympics organizers are not interested in adding eSports to the Games at this time, citing violence and unsportsmanlike values being portrayed.

According to Thomas Bach, President of the International Olympic Committee, eSports are inappropriate for inclusion in the Games. Citing too much violence, competitive gaming is now unlikely to make an appearance in the Olympics. Even though eSports is expected to generate billions in revenue by 2020, the IOC does not want to see violence, even in fantasy. "If you have egames where it's about killing somebody, this cannot be brought into line with our Olympic values," said Bach.

Holding a gold medal in fencing, Bach is no stranger to aggressive and seemingly violent events. Reasoning that fencing is a form of highly civil combat, it is not considered to be overtly dangerous nor is it intended to be truly violent in nature. Although eSports are virtually held, there is no question that the goal of many games is to kill your opponent.

At a Madden tournament in Florida, violence broke out in real life when a player competing opened fire on other competitors. Although there is no confirmation that this has directly contributed to the decision to hold off on including eSports in the Olympics, it certainly has had vast implications within the gaming community.

Bach admits that the determining what is considered violent and not is largely a cloudy discussion. "Blood in video games is the problem. The line to violence can be blurry but when it comes to blood it's easy to define."

Holding a global audience of around 320 million viewers, eSports events can garner more attention than many traditional sporting events. Esports is not inherently barred from the Olympics forever, but there are some hurdles that will need to be overcome for wider acceptance. After all, there are many that believe competitive gaming is not a sport and therefore ineligible for inclusion, but that is an entirely separate debate.

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https://www.techspot.com/news/76256-esports-now-considered-violent-olympics.html

 

[Cal Jeffrey]

I'm sorry, but I really don't see why this was being considered in the first place. Just because it has the word "sport" in its moniker does not mean it's athletic. The Olympics is an athletic competition. There are no athletics involved in esports.

 

[davislane1]

I'm sorry, but I really don't see why this was being considered in the first place. Just because it has the word "sport" in its moniker does not mean it's athletic. The Olympics is an athletic competition. There are no athletics involved in esports.

Exactly.

 

[isamuelson]

I'm sorry, but I really don't see why this was being considered in the first place. Just because it has the word "sport" in its moniker does not mean it's athletic. The Olympics is an athletic competition. There are no athletics involved in esports.

And then there's curling. Hmm.

But I do agree about not including Esports, not because of the violent content, but it's not a true athletic sport.

 

[mbrowne5061]

I'm sorry, but I really don't see why this was being considered in the first place. Just because it has the word "sport" in its moniker does not mean it's athletic. The Olympics is an athletic competition. There are no athletics involved in esports.

Chess is also a "sport", and has been in the Olympics before:
https://www.quora.com/Has-chess-ever-been-in-the-Olympics

Ultimately, viewership in the Olympics is dropping, especially among younger generations. The IOC is a business that survives on ad revenue and sponsorships, so they need to figure out a way to capture a younger audience. IMO, most of the big eSports names are not the way to go, the IOC made the right decision. That said, there are games that are not about killing your opponent; strategy games mostly like Civilization and Offworld Trading Company immediately jump to mind. Even then, this would only attract a certain segment of younger generations.

They need to add sports like Rock Climbing (and its endless variations; trad, lead, free, boulder, solo, deep water solo, top rope, speed, etc), and other sports that are attracting a younger generation.

 

[psycros]

"Blood in video games is the problem. The line to violence can be blurry but when it comes to blood it's easy to define."

Then I guess they need to get rid of boxing and hockey. Why don't they just be honest and say e-sports are NOT ACTUAL SPORTS but rather competitive gaming like chess or bowling? Video game competitions are also rife with doping - the majority of top teams have been caught. Their taking the same anti-ADHD drugs that most corporate CEOs are abusing.

 

[koblongata]

How about Splatoon?

 

[pcnthuziast]

If Democratic socialism ever sees the light of day, I don't know if the video game industry will survive tbh. Living in a perpetual state of being offended and outraged is something I can't even imagine, but for some, it's the way they live their lives every day.

 

[Brach Speicher]

Pfft, take the helmets and gloves away from boxers before you cast stones at eSports. The most violent thing to happen to boxing was the addition of gloves.

 

[sasat]

Bunch of fat nolifers, toasted to their chairs for life, starring at the blue screen, and moving at most 1 part of their body which is pointing finger. Can't be called even an activity, not to speak as a sport. And they are trying to get shoulder to shoulder with greatest athletics on the planet? They should make a competition of who will jizz faster in their pants then, this could be accepted in olympix I guess.

 

[TempleOrion]

If Democratic socialism ever sees the light of day, I don't know if the video game industry will survive tbh. Living in a perpetual state of being offended and outraged is something I can't even imagine, but for some, it's the way they live their lives every day.

Funnily enough "Democratic Socialism" has been around for decades and continues to flourish in civilized nations (where video games are also produced and enjoyed, funnily enough). Unfortunately, in more backward regions, easily triggered right wingers keep being outraged and offended that their antediluvian BS is laughed at...

 

[cliffordcooley]

I don't have a problem with this. There is a difference in competing and killing. Gaming conditions our mind that killing is the only way to compete. And this conditioning is a total lie, based on the lack of competition. But people want blood in games and then are naive, when it bleeds (intentional pun) over to reality.

 

[GreenArrow]

I think the best thing to do is have an Olympics specifically for ESport. Similar to how there is a winter and summer Olympics. you will simply have a gaming Olympics that can have more then just video games but also table top games.

 

[cliffordcooley]

Do we not have championships for eSports? This desire to include eSports in the Olympics is petty.

 

[captaincranky]

I think the best thing to do is have an Olympics specifically for ESport. Similar to how there is a winter and summer Olympics. you will simply have a gaming Olympics that can have more then just video games but also table top games.

There you go! It would be sort of a cross between the X-Games and Ultimate Fighting, but strictly for couch potatoes. You could have girls in hot pants bringing caffeine pills, Coke, and potato chips to, "the competitors".

Banned PEDs would include Lipitor, or any other cholesterol reducing statin drug.

I said, "girls in hot pants". Was that too misogynistic? Have I offended anyone?

 

[jackal2687]

We will just make our own Olympics, with blackjack and hookers!

 

[Fernando GC]

Ha! Really? Just look at any soccer stadium in the WORLD if you really want to see some violence.

 

[cliffordcooley]

For everyone that thinks Sports is more violent than games.

 

[Danny101]

I'm sorry, but I really don't see why this was being considered in the first place. Just because it has the word "sport" in its moniker does not mean it's athletic. The Olympics is an athletic competition. There are no athletics involved in esports.

Nailed it.

It's not a sport if one is still sitting on the keister.

 

[Danny101]

For everyone that thinks Sports is more violent than games.

Really. Video games have pretend violence vs. contact sports that have real violence. The reasoning of this age is backwards.

 

[erickmendes]

There wont be long before the big software companies make an eSports championship organization and create the Gamelympics.

 

[cliffordcooley]

Really. Video games have pretend violence.

And there lies the problem. You can't possibly see that they both effect people mentally in the same ways.

What you need to do is go to war and actually see blood. Then you will understand how putting it in movies and games is not a joke.

 

[Burty117]

Really. Video games have pretend violence.

And there lies the problem. You can't possibly see that they both effect people mentally in the same ways.

What you need to do is go to war and actually see blood. Then you will understand how putting it in movies and games is not a joke.

Overwatch and real war are completely different things, it worries me greatly that you get confused between the two...

 

[cliffordcooley]

A mental image is still a mental image. Regardless of whether it is virtual or reality. You can not deny this.

 

[Danny101]

A mental image is still a mental image. Regardless of whether it is virtual or reality. You can not deny this.

Not denying that virtual violence can't be a cause for concern in regards to disturb minds seeking to make it reality. We must remember though that disturb people have been committing atrocities for thousands of years and any perceived increase can just as easily be explained by the the sheer number of people alive. Also, I would wager that the biggest indicator of violence is home environments created by disturbed or incompetent parents who had no business being parents anyway than virtual images. Culture and permissiveness is different today than in years past. Today's 'do it if it feels good and screw any authority' culture stands in stark contrast to the more conservative, moral, respect your elders culture I grew up with in the 70's and 80's. We thought the adults were sticks in the mud then. Well, it has been adeptly proven how right they were. School shootings? Non-existent. Tell me again how the liberal culture think is working. Not saying every liberal position is wrong. Just mostly where they originate their arguments from. There I go, off on a tangent. I will stop now. I'm just trying see it all from a practical point of view, nor am I static and will certainly adjust my position(s) under the light of reasonable evidence(s).