Home Gaming eSports is not a sport according to the French Ministry of Sport

eSports is not a sport according to the French Ministry of Sport

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For quite some time, we’ve debated whether eSports are in fact sport. Some say it should be considered a sport, while some argue it’s an entirely different genre of recreation. While the thought of earning money playing video games still perplexes a large number of people, many have changed their tune once noticing its rapid growth over the past several years. With this noted growth, the finger now pointed at a more political ensemble of old timers as the question arose once again: “Is eSports in fact a sport?”

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The French say no

eSports Observer reported yesterday that the Ministry of Sport in France voted against eSports being noticed as a real sport after Axelle Lemaire, Secretary of State, sang it’s praises amidst the dissociation of eSports and Gambling in French Law. While this dissociation will in fact happen, the Sports Ministry will not associate eSports with sports. They did commend the growth of eSports, but their simple response was “no.”

Their main issue was the apparent lack of physical activity in playing video games, and they felt they could not condone the promotion thereof to the youth. Accepting eSports would mean the Ministry would accept the responsibility of creating awareness across all boards, similar to how sporting programs play a large role in schools, universities and at a club level. They even went as far as suggesting they use an alternative name, other than “eSports.”

The biggest push behind eSports being considered a sport would be for the benefit of players by being accepted and recognised by certain laws within France, and subsequent countries who recognize that law. This would offer players protection from unlawful affiliations and contracts with sponsors. The Ministry has agreed to assist with contracts, but will not change its mind on the decision. They suggested that the name change could see eSports diciplines being recognized by other Ministries such as the Ministry of Culture, or the Ministry of Numeric Economy.

Can the two co-exist?

Believe it or not, South Africa recognizes certain eSports titles as Tier One sports. But are the French completely incorrect in their decision?

In my opinion the whole “eSports is a sport” argument has lost its value over the years as it became a way to try and explain it to well, older people. There are distinct similarities between the two, but I’ve always maintained that comparing the two is like comparing apples and apple juice. While they’re almost the same thing, children do enjoy one more than the other, and that’s the real fear here for people such as the French Ministry of Sport.

There are of course ways around this, which should probably have been discussed in this environment. For example, if eSports were introduced into schools it could be constructed in a way as to ensure children remain physically active. In this sense I do understand their hesitance.

The co-existence of the two could mean legal and financial benefits for players, as well as security. But you can’t paint the two with the same brush. Some of the contractual agreements could hinder the competitive nature of eSports. Af we had to compare it to conventional sports, eSports thrives more on a “club level” as opposed to a national level. There are national competitions such as the French-run ESWC, and the IeSF, but throughout the year we’re treated to an array of privately-organized tournaments such as Dreamhack, ESL, et al. which could see less and less involvement as players are locked in national contracts. This may seem like an irrational fear, but it’s worth some consideration.

Final thoughts

Every cloud has its silver lining, and what I’m taking from this is that eSports have begun to rustle a few feathers throughout the globe. Many countries do consider eSports as a sport, but the reluctance of certain nations should not alarm you. In the end the two can co-exist, but that does require further understanding of both before we can simply say in any conversation that “oh eSports is like a sport.”

People are starting to take notice, and this is a good thing, but it will be a while before we can collectively associate the two with little explanation of either.

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Last Updated: December 3, 2015

82 Comments

  1. Admiral Chief - CHAAARGE!

    December 3, 2015 at 14:36

    Would you consider chess a sport?

    Reply

    • VampyreSquirrel

      December 3, 2015 at 14:42

      I do.

      Reply

    • WitWolfy

      December 3, 2015 at 14:44

      Man, my humor almost went too dark there for a moment…

      #filter

      Reply

    • Alien Emperor Trevor

      December 3, 2015 at 14:44

      I don’t. And yes, I know it’s recognised as one. Guess I’m just old and don’t understand these newfangled games you kids play.

      Reply

      • Frik van der Hewerskink

        December 3, 2015 at 15:41

        The history of chess is more than 1500 years old dude, Fearing the loss of their people, entire wars between two nations were even avoided by the kings playing a simple game of chess, newfangled games ? lol

        Reply

        • miaau

          December 3, 2015 at 15:44

          yeah, is interesting to see. But, when I look at games from 1600’s that were written down, it seems that chess skill and knowledge picked up massively from, say, 1850 onwards.

          Some of the games were really quite weak, but I also imagine that games of important people were recorded, rather than games of people who played well.

          Reply

          • Frik van der Hewerskink

            December 3, 2015 at 15:45

            The population of the world only started booming from the 1800s, that is where you would see the correlation between the numbers and that specific time period.

          • miaau

            December 3, 2015 at 15:49

            that, also, made a factor. But I also think more people started having more free time to truly study chess, so it is sort of like a geometric increase in the amount of chess study.

        • Alien Emperor Trevor

          December 3, 2015 at 15:55

          I learn something new every day!

          Reply

          • miaau

            December 3, 2015 at 15:55

            Yes, I am sure you do.

          • HvR

            December 3, 2015 at 16:14

            Haha

          • miaau

            December 3, 2015 at 16:24

            Yeah, I too think that Sir Emperor is pretty well rounded in his education and is very well rounded in use of sarcasm and so forth

        • Skyblue

          December 3, 2015 at 22:26

          I hope this is true because if it is it’s actually fucking awesome. PS it’s too late and I’m too tired to Google it

          Reply

    • Original Heretic

      December 3, 2015 at 14:46

      Was thinking the exact same thing.

      Reply

    • Hammersteyn

      December 3, 2015 at 14:48

      Chess is recognized as a sport by the International Olympic Committee (IOC); since June 1999 FIDE has been recognized by the International Sports Federation.

      Reply

    • Hammersteyn

      December 3, 2015 at 14:48

      So on paper it’s a sport

      Reply

      • Admiral Chief - CHAAARGE!

        December 3, 2015 at 14:48

        A pity. I really think that this deserves to get recognition (gaming)

        Reply

    • oVg SOmaNY games

      December 3, 2015 at 14:55

      YEA, I got more splinters than I did holding a Cricket bat.

      Reply

      • Hammersteyn

        December 3, 2015 at 14:56

        O_o throwing pieces at people is not considered a tactic

        Reply

        • Alien Emperor Trevor

          December 3, 2015 at 14:57

          Shuddup you white knight!

          Reply

          • Hammersteyn

            December 3, 2015 at 14:59

            If you saw me drinking you’d know I was a Castle 😛

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            December 3, 2015 at 14:59

            lol

          • Admiral Chief - CHAAARGE!

            December 3, 2015 at 15:09

            I thought when you were drinking you were a bishop? (because of the diagonal walking…)

          • Hammersteyn

            December 3, 2015 at 15:51

            So I’m a castle and a bishop. A queen moves like both… NO wait I’m a castle!

          • miaau

            December 3, 2015 at 15:52

            “Queen me” is just an expression right?

            Do you drink draught?

          • Hammersteyn

            December 3, 2015 at 16:15

            by the litres

          • miaau

            December 3, 2015 at 16:25

            Ok.

            So, then Queen it is then. Playing draughts. Yeah, struggling to this pun sorted out. Oh well.

          • Hammersteyn

            December 3, 2015 at 17:05

            hehe good try

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            December 3, 2015 at 15:53

            I’m a king. Walk around slowly, and if anyone traps me I fall down & pretend to be dead.

          • Hammersteyn

            December 3, 2015 at 16:15

            hahahahaha

      • Captain JJ 4x

        December 3, 2015 at 15:00

        You’ve held a cricket bat? O_o

        Reply

        • oVg SOmaNY games

          December 3, 2015 at 15:08

          Yes, school forced us to do stupid things like play SPORT.

          SPORT can GITS.

          Reply

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            December 3, 2015 at 15:10

            But games are sports now. *run*

          • Captain JJ 4x

            December 3, 2015 at 15:11

            Oh just imagine if you could play Starcraft in PE and get graded on it.

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            December 3, 2015 at 15:13

            Well immediately there are two problems with that:

            1) Playing Starcraft
            2) Being in PE

          • Captain JJ 4x

            December 3, 2015 at 15:33

            LOL.
            Warframe? And…what did they call it in the Afrikaans schools? L.O? Lewens Orienteering?

          • Admiral Chief - CHAAARGE!

            December 3, 2015 at 15:38

            *Lewensorientering (you almost had it!)

            And yeah, they should teach kids things like RESPECT and DISCIPLINE and SPELLING

          • Captain JJ 4x

            December 3, 2015 at 15:40

            When to use full stops at the end of sentences might help for some too!

          • Admiral Chief - CHAAARGE!

            December 3, 2015 at 15:41

            Indeed, no one likes a missed period…

          • Captain JJ 4x

            December 3, 2015 at 15:42

            😀

          • Admiral Chief - CHAAARGE!

            December 3, 2015 at 15:41

            Full stop would mean I’ve stopped talking, this is not the case

          • Admiral Chief - CHAAARGE!

            December 3, 2015 at 15:17

            I don’t want to go to PE, just now I run into Darryn

          • Captain JJ 4x

            December 3, 2015 at 15:33

            True dat.

          • oVg SOmaNY games

            December 3, 2015 at 15:17

            Beach Volleyball with scantly clad beach babes in Red Bull G-Strings on ESPN is what I call entertainment 😛

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            December 3, 2015 at 15:21

            That’s what the E in ESPN stands for.

          • oVg SOmaNY games

            December 3, 2015 at 15:22

            MIND BLOWN

          • Captain JJ 4x

            December 3, 2015 at 15:34

            Watch it for the “sportsmanship”

          • oVg SOmaNY games

            December 3, 2015 at 15:37

            Na, I just want to watch boobs bounce up and down in slow motion on the replay.

            Or I can play DOA Extreme, when gamers get over the shock that the game is designed for sportsmanship 😛

          • Captain JJ 4x

            December 3, 2015 at 15:37

            LOL

    • Captain JJ 4x

      December 3, 2015 at 14:59

      Technically it’s not.
      But technically soccer is also closer to acting. So who knows.
      What about something like pro card players? What are they considered to be?

      Reply

      • Hammersteyn

        December 3, 2015 at 15:00

        Ah but you see. Football is a big money maker for organized crime so no touchy

        Reply

      • J Smith

        December 3, 2015 at 18:33

        Pro card players

        Reply

    • miaau

      December 3, 2015 at 15:23

      http://www.olympic.org/chess

      Yes, they do.

      It is tricky. I can tell you, getting to those high levels in chess takes many years of dedication, hours every single day. I could not dot that, but as a child I started to. Wow. so much dedication.

      Reply

      • Admiral Chief - CHAAARGE!

        December 3, 2015 at 15:27

        See now that is what I’m talking about. Chess is seen as a sport, why can gaming not be seen as a sport?

        Reply

        • miaau

          December 3, 2015 at 15:27

          yeah, see my edit!

          Reply

          • Admiral Chief - CHAAARGE!

            December 3, 2015 at 15:47

            Ugh, now I need to refresh page, dammit Miaau!

          • miaau

            December 3, 2015 at 15:49

            yeah, pressing f5 can cause RSI

        • Fernando Garcia

          January 19, 2016 at 17:35

          Chess isn’t a sport.

          Reply

      • Fernando Garcia

        January 19, 2016 at 17:33

        The IOC is mistaken.

        Reply

    • miaau

      December 3, 2015 at 15:46

      By the way, I think all children should be taught the basics of chess and or Go. It enables us to think in certain ways, within limitations to find out the box solutions and ideas. And to formulate long term plans. Important and good life skills, right there, I shouldn’t wonder.

      My daughter will learn to play and if she enjoys it, we take it further. If not, then not.

      Reply

    • J Smith

      December 3, 2015 at 18:30

      That depends is it Russian Roulette chess

      Reply

  2. Alien Emperor Trevor

    December 3, 2015 at 14:39

    Looks like you’ll have to get tourist visas to attend your hobby convention after all.

    Reply

  3. WitWolfy

    December 3, 2015 at 14:41

    And yet Poker is on ESPN… Isnt anything that challenges you mentally or/and physically considered a sport???

    Reply

    • Hammersteyn

      December 3, 2015 at 14:45

      If it makes money it’s a sport.

      Reply

      • Admiral Chief - CHAAARGE!

        December 3, 2015 at 14:45

        Interesting view. I find myself agreeing with this.

        A team activity, that generates revenue.

        Reply

      • HvR

        December 3, 2015 at 15:14

        So prostitution is a sport?

        Reply

        • Admiral Chief - CHAAARGE!

          December 3, 2015 at 15:16

          Is there prostitution on ESPN?

          Reply

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            December 3, 2015 at 15:20

            You mean on Entertainment & Sports Prostitution Network?

          • HvR

            December 3, 2015 at 15:21

            is there another ESPN?

        • Hammersteyn

          December 3, 2015 at 15:51

          Not christian enough

          Reply

    • Captain JJ 4x

      December 3, 2015 at 15:01

      Maybe it’s because people who are professional gamers actually pass university, and they can’t be giving sports grants to people who actually get their qualifications. What kind of message would that send?

      Reply

      • J Smith

        December 3, 2015 at 18:42

        Wow good job on being a ass hole to every one who plays sports and not every pro game passed University

        Reply

        • Captain JJ 4x

          December 4, 2015 at 07:36

          I’m pointing out that the wrong people are getting grants or the opportunity to get further education. It’s called being satirical.

          Reply

    • J Smith

      December 3, 2015 at 18:40

      There use to be tractor pulling competitions on ESPN is that a sport

      Reply

  4. Original Heretic

    December 3, 2015 at 14:49

    I wish that all the naysayers of eSports will realize that different sports have different sets of criteria. Just because there’s no real physical activity involved, it does not detract from the the fact that you still need to exercise certain parts of your body in order to compete.
    You cannot be a professional gamer if your hand-eye co-ordination isn’t top notch, not to mention reflexes in order to react to unforeseen situations. And the mental acuity necessary for some pro titles is way above what some of these so called “leaders” can even fathom.

    Reply

    • Hammersteyn

      December 3, 2015 at 14:54

      In this case it’s the French, they’re always different

      Reply

      • Original Heretic

        December 3, 2015 at 14:58

        Next thing you know they’ll be giving cigarettes to babies and dropping nukes in Tahiti.

        Reply

        • Hammersteyn

          December 3, 2015 at 14:59

          Robin Williams covered that XD

          Reply

  5. HvR

    December 3, 2015 at 15:21

    Saca blu all this pointy and cluky is no sport. Backwards tank driving and allemand fallatio those are true French sports.

    Reply

  6. The Sten

    December 3, 2015 at 16:09

    If being a professional gamer became a thing. What child will then willingly choose to be an electrician, plumber, farmer etc. (things society needs)? What effect will this have on the rising obesity problem?

    Reply

  7. Andrew Carman

    December 3, 2015 at 22:32

    Is masturbation a sport? you know since it’s physical activity

    Reply

  8. Skyblue

    December 3, 2015 at 22:34

    They don’t recognize Syrian refugee’s as possible terrorists either… co-incidence or ignorance?
    I’ve seen pro gamers do what I can only dream of doing myself, much like watching pro sportsmen in their prime such as Ronaldo, Messi, McCaw, Smit, de Villiers, Klusener, et al

    Reply

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