Gamers as Athletes... It does make no sense.

Sure, some games do take great skill, but that doesn't make it a sport.

Video games may take a lot of skill, but gamers are definitely not athletes. Saying that gamers are athletes is like saying that video games are a sport. I think it is insane.

Gamers should not be recognized as pro athletes simply because your not doing anything that requires skill nor are you doing anything using your own abilities. In addition what would separate pro gamers from regular gamers after all anyone can beat anyone in video games, deciding who is the best would be quite difficult and rather pointless since video game records get broken all the time.  

There are arguments at to what constitutes a sport. If your definition is an activity that requires skill, practice, and competition, then sure. Video games can be called a sport. But in no way should it be considered an "Athletic" sport. Being a video game player does not make you an athlete. That is like saying writing essays to compete with others for a scholarship is athletic just because it is competitive. Athleticism is a state of higher physical condition. I would confidently say that 9/10 video game players who consider themselves athletes for playing video games do not do any other real form of athletic activity. 

It's pretty strange oh how they call Pro-gamers "Pro-Athletes" because they might be active mentally, but not physically, and it's going to be strange for a parent tell a kid to "be more active" and the kid says "I am, I'm practicing on competing for the Pro-Gamer league", that'll cause some problems, so in a way, I don't think they should be called pro-athletes.

Yeah I agree, I think it is very strange how they regard them as pro athletes, it just makes no sense to me. They may be constantly engaged in mental activity, but I don't really see how it is recognized as a pro athlete level of activity. 

I don't really think they should call it that to be honest, it is weird. I play games often, but I wouldn't consider myself a pro athlete gamer. I agree with rcarter's definition as a sport, but it is not athletic by any means because you aren't engaging in any kind of activity, except for mental of course. So I would classify it as a sport, but just not an athletic one. 

They're getting paid to do something = They're professionals.

They're competing in an activity that requires some level of hand-eye coordination and skill = They're playing a game.  

Game = sport

There you have it: They're pro athletes and they can come over and make cash like baseball players, hockey players, etc.

I have no beef with it and I'm American.  Come on in, people!

I don't see why gamers shouldn't be. While it might not seem like much, it actually takes a lot of training to be good enough at a game to be considered professional. A video game is like a sport, except played a different way. If you say it isn't a sport because you don't move much, than how about golf? not really that much movement besides going to the next hole or where it landed, professional golfers are also called Pro athletes.

I don't believe game=sport. They are two different words for a reason. Sports are games, but games are not necessarily sports.

This is a tough question.  A sport, to me, is not simply something that requires skill and ability.

Is poker, bridge, or, dominoes a sport? No, they are games. However none of those games require "physical" ability to play well. Video games do require timing and reflexes in order to play well... so what else can it be compared to?

Darts require some form of coordination and focus, not unlike video games; it's a sport. But some card games require reflexes and timing, and I would not call them a sport.

I believe the deciding factor is a sports is a game that require some kind of physical coordination and strength (even darts and bowling rely on certain muscle being well developed), thus, I would not call most video games a sport.

There could be exceptions though, like DDR.

Light Knight : Real time videos games most certainly do require physical competence. High level professional work out regularly and need excellent (physical) reflexes. The way they can make split-second reactions is truly incredible and by far outstrips anything you or I could manage. Hand-eye coordinations and mental agility which is both physical and mental (as I have touched on earlier in this thread) are important for all sports, be they electronic or otherwise. I still haven't seen anyone present a reasonable argument against e-sports that extend beyond "because it doesn't seem right to me".

But don't just take my word for it. Funny you mentioned bridge (a card game). The International Olympics Committee officially recognises it as a sport. It also as a sport recognises activities including chess, life saving, and bowling.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_international_sport_federations

See, the problem with you and all the other nay-sayers on this thread is that you're judging off personal feelings. Something should or should not be a sport based on what you feel. That cannot possibly be an accurate and consistent method for determining what is or is not a sport. So who gets to decide what constitutes a sport? Shall we invent some arbitrary standard that requires just the right sort of physical attribution so as to exclude electronic sports, as many of you seem determined to do? That is senseless, as largest international sporting body in the world has shown. The most basic definition of a sport is in an activity that can be played competetively. Heck, I remember hearing about a group that was trying to get rock, paper, scissors added to olympic roster. You don't get to add arbitrary standards on just because you feel like the sacred integrity of the word "sport" has been violated.

ath·lete

noun

1. a person who is proficient in sports and other forms of physical exercise.

Games such as Wii Fit require a little physical competence, but not just any game. Most video games don't require any sort of physical exercise at all.

Im kind of surprised this is still going, I didnt expect many people to have much inerest in this.
It seems about a 4/5 split against it so far.

I done actually have any major objection personally, but i do feel that a sport requires natural talent. A game doesent.
I say that from experience. I used to dominate on online games because frankly i played too much. I wasnt naturally skilled, just more experienced.

Traduweise :   Well, you certainly out-serioused me on this one. I was indeed speaking only of my OPINION of sports, and not what the official definition is. Bowling and life saving are definitally sports, but bridge and chess? Games. A a sport is a " competitive physical activity", physical activity is futhur defined as a "bodily activity that enhances or maintains physical fitness and overall health and wellness"(both from wikipedia). And so, although some games like bridge are officially now considered sports, does that mean it's impossible to have a well supported different opinion? I sure hope you don't think so.

Therefore, for now, I still think Video Games, along with some other games, should not be considered sports.

Light Knight : Sports are also games. You're once again throwing out arbitrary definitions, and expecting them to pass. Opinions are only as effective as you can defend them. I can have the opinion that a sport is actually a fruity gelato made from kumquats, but that doesn't make it worthwhile or meaningful.

I used the bridge example because it seemed extreme; you managed to completely ignore what I said about video games, and yet still conclude that they should be lumped in with "games" like bridge. I've already gone over the nonsensical divide between mental and physical exertion. There's no reason a game like bridge shouldn't be upheld as a sport alongside, say, basketball, or Starcraft. You're so hung up on the physical, that you forget what the physical is. So go ahead and define things as you like. In the meantime, more and more people and organizations will continue to demonstrate the fluidity of sport and leave the more obstinate members of society behind.

Traduweise :

"Sports are also games."

Yes they are. In my first post I mentioned that sports are games, but I don't think all games should be called sports.

"You're once again throwing out arbitrary definitions, and expecting them to pass. Opinions are only as effective as you can defend them. I can have the opinion that a sport is actually a fruity gelato made from kumquats, but that doesn't make it worthwhile or meaningful. "

I thought I was defending them quite well, but I shall attempt once more.

"I used the bridge example because it seemed extreme; you managed to completely ignore what I said about video games, and yet still conclude that they should be lumped in with "games" like bridge. I've already gone over the nonsensical divide between mental and physical exertion. There's no reason a game like bridge shouldn't be upheld as a sport alongside, say, basketball, or Starcraft. "

I was the one who came up with the bridge example, and so I kept with that as a comparison. And, I realize I didn't specifically address what you said about video games and their physical demands. Here I go. As I quoted earlier, Wikipedia defines physical activity as "bodily activity that enhances or maintains physical fitness and overall health and wellness". I believe that a "true sport" should have a prominent physical component. You said some video gamers exercise rigorously to become better at their game? I've watched some documentaries on professional gamers in the past, and most of them where quite out of shape, but still very very good. Now, even if there ARE some gamers who take their physical fitness seriously to increase their agility and reflexes... it's still the lifting of the weights (and running, stretching, etc) that is the sport. For example, being in good physical shape undoubtedly increases student's performances in school, does that mean going to school is a sport? Regardless of the above point I made, the following point is the real reason I don't believe VGs are sports.

"You're so hung up on the physical, that you forget what the physical is. So go ahead and define things as you like. In the meantime, more and more people and organizations will continue to demonstrate the fluidity of sport and leave the more obstinate members of society behind."

Ah, I'm glad you understand something of what I've posted. Yes, I think it's all about the physical. And here is the real point I've been trying to make. Look at wikipedia's entry on "List of sports", at first glance we see there is a distinction between mind and physical sports. Scroll down to "mind sports", and we see that mind sports are "often not considered true sports", and that not all organizations consider them sports, and that the article is not to "not to argue their validity as sports".  Clearly, there is still some professional opinions on both sides as to what should be considered a "true" sport. And here is where the heart of my opinion lies. Let me rephrase it again, because I think it was not refined eariler: I believe Mind games, such as video games, cards, or chess, should not be considered sports, and that a true sport  should be a usually competitive game requiring physical activity. Try to understand, some people support that "true sports" should only include physical sports, some support it should also include mental sports. The school of though that I agree with is the former.

Light Knight : I did not say video gamers exercise rigorously to become better. I said some video gamers exercise because being in shape improves performance. It has little to do with why video games are considered sport. School performance can be improved by fitness
because the processes behind thought are inherently physical.

Anyway, there doesn't seem to be much here. You keep insisting that in your opinion, video games are not sport. Notwithstanding the false dichotomy between physical and mental that you continually skate over, you've already said that. To make it worse, you can't seem to find any arguments for it. Repeating something does not make it true. Quoting Wikipedia does not give your claims expert backing; Wikipedia even admits it is making this distinction so as to be as uncontroversial as possible. That isn't to say you can't find sporting organizations that would not consider chess or video games to be sports - I doubt they could make any arguments that extend your arbitrary requirements. You still haven't defined terms, you just throw out vague allusions to physical exertion. Which brings us back to what exactly is required to be a sport.

What about archery? Yes, it's a sport. But it requires strength and coordination, but no fitness aspect. In fact, with new and improved bows, even strength is a minimal aspect. What about sharpshooting? It's certainly treated as a sport all over the world, but requires no strength or phyiscal prowess. Pool? Having played both it and competetive video games, I can assure you the video games are far more taxing. Heck, it's turn-based. Arm wrestling? It certainly requires strength, but that's it. And so on. I still see no reason to take your opinion over the olympics committee, ESPN (broadcasts poker as a sport), or other organizations. What your opinion is does not matter, it's why your opinion should be taken by anyone else. Otherwise we can return to my definition of sport as Italian ice cream.

Traduweise :

"That isn't to say you can't find sporting

organizations that would not consider chess or video games to be sports -

I doubt they could make any arguments that extend your arbitrary

requirements"

The fact that you have already made up your mind that a sports organization (and me) could not make any meaningful arguments tells me it doesn't matter what I say now. You've already decided what you want to believe.

Traduweise : Here is my question. Sure, you can consider competitive activities that require skill a sport. I won't contest that. But do you consider video game playing an ATHLETIC sport. The thread title specifically states that gamers are considered athletes, implying that video game playing is an 'athletic' sport.