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Paris Olympic bid committee (2024) co-president on esports possible role in Olympics
- Thread starter Blue Lou
- Start date
DukeLongfellow
Member
I am not a big esports guy so I have little understanding for pushing this idea but I have to wonder.
If we consider esports tentatively in the same vein as athletics in that it is "one event" or "one category" with mutliple "disciplines" (in this case games) in it, then that would mean (as an example) that League of Legends or Overwatch get to be permanent "disciplines" within the esports "sport" (which is not an easy classification to get for any regular sport).
What troubles me with this idea is that the popularity and sustainability of regular sports is much more lasting than that of video/computer games. LoL or Overwatch won't be popular forever and its audience will certainly decline over time. Whould such a thing even deserve to be a permanent Olympic discpline then? Especially since games are private properties of companies and not a "common good"?
Also, I think it would be a travesty for esports to get in before chess. Chess has tried to become an Olympic discipline probably since time immemorial and was always refused. Mind you, CHESS which has a much bigger tradition and a shitton more respect than esports could ever hope to have, even if the prize pools don't really compare.
If we consider esports tentatively in the same vein as athletics in that it is "one event" or "one category" with mutliple "disciplines" (in this case games) in it, then that would mean (as an example) that League of Legends or Overwatch get to be permanent "disciplines" within the esports "sport" (which is not an easy classification to get for any regular sport).
What troubles me with this idea is that the popularity and sustainability of regular sports is much more lasting than that of video/computer games. LoL or Overwatch won't be popular forever and its audience will certainly decline over time. Whould such a thing even deserve to be a permanent Olympic discpline then? Especially since games are private properties of companies and not a "common good"?
Also, I think it would be a travesty for esports to get in before chess. Chess has tried to become an Olympic discipline probably since time immemorial and was always refused. Mind you, CHESS which has a much bigger tradition and a shitton more respect than esports could ever hope to have, even if the prize pools don't really compare.
Trogdor1123
Member
Oh, I think they should be in for sure but im not too familiar with those sports so really cant say with any degree of certainty. I know the biathalon is considered one of the most difficult sports in the world. Other than that, I know very little about those sports (even though I like shooting myself).
Could you share a bit on them?
Spyder_Monkey
Banned
Esports as a whole also doesn't make a lot of sense. It's a general term referring to all kinds of games being played. It's like referring to the entirety of the Olympics as just one sport. Figuring that out is going to be a nightmare especially for the (older) Olympic planners.
They wouldn't be ditching their team sponsors and they would make money from big brands. plus some countries pay for medals earned.
Trogdor1123
Member
Would they mandate the hardware as well? Would be interesting how that was handled from even to event.
Could you imagine you lost cause you got some lag that was hardware related... Same as another physical item failing I suppose
Could you imagine you lost cause you got some lag that was hardware related... Same as another physical item failing I suppose
sixteen-bit
Member
Lol SFV not even a poll option.
Left behind.
Left behind.
Urgh, no. Keep it separate...also, we had the WCG for that.
Looks like a joke poll anyway.
Because it's the game they're actually going to pick.
What is going on? I was pretty sure that people on this forum will be more open to this idea.
I can understand the debate over chess but e-sports are just as much of a physical activity as some of the olympic sports. Yes, it uses equipment, but so do many other disciplines.
Can anyone who is against it point out the main aspect of e-sports that makes him/her think it a bad idea?
I can understand the debate over chess but e-sports are just as much of a physical activity as some of the olympic sports. Yes, it uses equipment, but so do many other disciplines.
Can anyone who is against it point out the main aspect of e-sports that makes him/her think it a bad idea?
Phrozenflame500
Member
I'm not really convinced there's a demand for esports in traditional sports spaces. The semantics and imaginary prestige of it are irrelevant, it just seems like esports found their niche in separate events on platforms better suited for their demographic.
LowlySmokeGuy
Banned
Hell no. Stop giving recognition to these fucking nerds. They never earned it.
Twitch is probably going to eventually stream the Olympics regardless.
Tanoooki
Member
I think this is a good idea in theory but I don't think the Summer Olympics are the right venue. Too many news outlets and commentators will laugh about it or make a stink about it so it will be ridiculed so much it won't make a reappearance.
Perhaps, a World Cup or a "Cyber" Olympics that's held separately like they have a Winter or Summer Olympics. I do believe that top level gamers have skills beyond the normal person BUT at the same time I don't think it belongs at the Olympics just like I don't think chess, cards, MTG, or tabletop games belong at the Olympics either.
Perhaps, a World Cup or a "Cyber" Olympics that's held separately like they have a Winter or Summer Olympics. I do believe that top level gamers have skills beyond the normal person BUT at the same time I don't think it belongs at the Olympics just like I don't think chess, cards, MTG, or tabletop games belong at the Olympics either.
I mean even if we were just sticking to the top ten most watched eSports for the poll, we wouldn't list Street Fighter.
I'm surprised Melee isn't higher on that list considering how long it takes for a single match to play out.
Then why list DBFZ?I mean even if we were just sticking to the top ten most watched eSports for the poll, we wouldn't list Street Fighter.
Either way, we'll probably have SFVI by 2024.
Mainstream watchability has to play a role in this. MOBAs: Some dudes clicking like madmen while everything on screen is a total clusterfuck. Hard to imagine tbh.
1vs1 Street Fighter is just so in line with other olympic Martial Arts.
DukeLongfellow
Member
BINGO!
Exactly what I said in my post above. Video games as a software are properties of companies/people who made them. They are not a common good and should not be even considered as a regular Olympic discipline (especially before chess) because of this reason.
What I COULD see happen is a completely separate event (think Esports Olympics) that could have the blessing of the Olympic Committee but to make it completely and undeniably separate from the regular Olympics. Let's say we have Summer and Winter Olympics with Esports Olympics being their small and not nearly as relevant little "brother".
Trogdor1123
Member
Its not a sport... that's mine at least.
Conkerkid11
Member
I'm glad everybody else voted on Catherine as well.
Agreed. Who wants to watch some of the most agile and powerful athletes of our lifetimes compete on an international stage when we could be watching people using shitty gamertags as names moving their thumbs slightly better than the average person to make digital characters move around a screen instead.
Rexatality
Member
Watching Olympics is just boring to me. It's really that simple
Temeculan3000
Member
I think you would want at least one fighting game in a major esports event like this and SFV would probably be the choice. While new games come out, assuming no major issues the event would stick with the SF franchise.
Counter-Strike has also been very stable, considering it has been a top competitive shooter since 2000-2001. Even though the versions changed and we are on another game in the series now. The core game remains the same. So CS:GO would be a safe choice.
It sucks 1v1 DM games are no longer popular, because that was always one of my favorite CPL events. Quake 3 being pretty much the gold standard.
I think an RTS like Starcraft would be great to be included, but it seems MOBAs are more popular these days. You would need at least one, probably Dota 2. Would be cool to also see SC included.
Rocket League would also be a fun one for something a little different.
Secondary to SFV would be Smash Bros
Secondary to CS:GO would be COD or Overwatch
Secondary to Dota 2 would be LOL
etc..
So ideally:
One team based competitive shooter (aka CS:GO)
One team based MOBA (aka Dota 2)
One team based sports game (aka Rocket League)
One individual fighting game (aka SFV)
One individual RTS game (aka SC2)
One individual DM shooter (aka Quake Champions)
Counter-Strike has also been very stable, considering it has been a top competitive shooter since 2000-2001. Even though the versions changed and we are on another game in the series now. The core game remains the same. So CS:GO would be a safe choice.
It sucks 1v1 DM games are no longer popular, because that was always one of my favorite CPL events. Quake 3 being pretty much the gold standard.
I think an RTS like Starcraft would be great to be included, but it seems MOBAs are more popular these days. You would need at least one, probably Dota 2. Would be cool to also see SC included.
Rocket League would also be a fun one for something a little different.
Secondary to SFV would be Smash Bros
Secondary to CS:GO would be COD or Overwatch
Secondary to Dota 2 would be LOL
etc..
So ideally:
One team based competitive shooter (aka CS:GO)
One team based MOBA (aka Dota 2)
One team based sports game (aka Rocket League)
One individual fighting game (aka SFV)
One individual RTS game (aka SC2)
One individual DM shooter (aka Quake Champions)
BouncyFrag
Member
Splatoon 2 if only for the chaos when Nintys weekly mode schedule is still in effect.
friskykillface
Banned
Mario Kart Olympic trials would be hype af
XiaNaphryz
LATIN, MATRIPEDICABUS, DO YOU SPEAK IT
You should see some of the polls that go up on OT!
Phrozenflame500
Member
ded gaems aren't eligible unfortunately.
But why couldn't it be treated as such?
Sgt. Kabukiman
Banned
Paris, France?
All right, the time has come.
Trackmania, Shootmania, RPGmania. Let's go.
All right, the time has come.
Trackmania, Shootmania, RPGmania. Let's go.
FantasticMrFoxdie
Mumber
No Starcraft option in poll?
No vote for me.
edit: I vote for Mario & Sonix
No vote for me.
edit: I vote for Mario & Sonix
DeadManWalking
Member
Comparing e-sport games to speed texting. lmao what year is this?
The recent Starcraft remastered reveal event invitational tournament had ~80k viewers IIRC. And that's jut outside of Korea. Quite a few of the games on the poll don't manage that.
Here's what's actually running the Asian Games: http://www.espn.com/esports/story/_/id/19185921/esports-join-asian-games-medal-sport-2022
As usual:
1.-I don't want eSports on the olympics
2.- People saying "but muh sanctity of sports!" as usual are being ridiculous when shit like poker, chess, motor sports, shooting, archery, darts, pool are considered sports. These are all shit that takes around the same "athleticism" as videogames yet they don't get "disqualified" as sports, and Shooting and Archery are Olympic sports.
1.-I don't want eSports on the olympics
2.- People saying "but muh sanctity of sports!" as usual are being ridiculous when shit like poker, chess, motor sports, shooting, archery, darts, pool are considered sports. These are all shit that takes around the same "athleticism" as videogames yet they don't get "disqualified" as sports, and Shooting and Archery are Olympic sports.
Of course there's demand. Those "traditional sports spaces" want younger viewers and younger viewers care about esports.
brunomartynhak
Member
I wanted to post that the corporate aspect of inadvertently promoting a company's game through the Olympics is a bit iffy and problematic, but then I remembered how corporate it already is with all the sponsorships and the insane biddings going on to get the broadcasting rights.
In Sweden our commercial-free channel who had been broadcasting it every time for decades and decades have now lost the rights and are basically out of the game indefinitely just because the costs have become so ridiculously high and they can't compete with the big multimedia giants in the biddings.
In Sweden our commercial-free channel who had been broadcasting it every time for decades and decades have now lost the rights and are basically out of the game indefinitely just because the costs have become so ridiculously high and they can't compete with the big multimedia giants in the biddings.
How Motorsports are not a sport?