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Forums - Gaming Discussion - Should pro gamers be considered as athletes?

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Should pro gamers be considered as athletes?

Yes 50 14.66%
 
No 263 77.13%
 
indifferent 17 4.99%
 
Where am I? 10 2.93%
 
Total:340
ice on 05 April 2014
This question has been around for years, should pro gamers be considered as athletes? A University in South Korea seems to think so. Recently the Chung-Ang University in South Korea considers competitive gamers the same as traditional athletes. This top 10 school in South Korea will be accepting esports applicants next year.
 
Do you think gamers should be able to  enroll in a University as a student athlete? 
 
 
I'm going to state an unpopular opinion and say yes. I know people will instantly say no because they think it's easy and they're lazy or whatever but I don't think the general public knows how hard it really is to become a pro. These pros are practicing every day, the strategy and stamina involved is crazy. Sure it's not what we think of traditionally as a athlete, but I do think it's something we should consider.


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Frogger on 05 April 2014

Lmao, no. An athlete is someone who is shown to have physical athletic prowess. You're pushing the limits of your body, not your mind. Call it something else. Pro Gamers deserve respect, but the aren't athletes. It's not about how challenging it is or how much practice you need. 



Leadified on 05 April 2014

If games are considered sports then yeah I would say pro gamers are athletes. As for the question if there should be university dedicated courses to that, I'm not so sure, what would you learn or study?



Frogger on 05 April 2014

Oops. Double post.





techhunter80 on 05 April 2014

I don't think pro gamers should be thought of as athletes because pro gamers don't take part in vigorous sports like athletes do. But I do think they should be seen as experts in their field and should have some kind of benefits.



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badgenome on 05 April 2014

athlete: a person who is trained in or good at sports, games, or exercises that require physical skill and strength

Nope.



Frogger on 05 April 2014
badgenome said:
athlete: a person who is trained in or good at sports, games, or exercises that require physical skill and strength

Nope.


Exactly.



HigHurtenflurst on 05 April 2014

Only if they game on a treadmill.



chapset on 05 April 2014

A huge step forward has been taken for eSports as StarCraft II pro Kim "viOLet" Dong Hwan has been recognized as an athlete by the U.S. Government. As his sponsors, CSA, and TheDailyDot report, viOLet was one of the first to apply for the P-1A visa when it was opened to pro gamers five months ago. The visa doesn't allow him to permanently reside in the U.S., but does permit him to enter temporarily to participate in tournaments and the like, and is the same as is awarded to other athletes.

While this is undoubtedly a fantastic turn of events for a StarCraft II player whose career has been fraught with mishaps, it is the bigger picture that's really important here. This sets a precedent for eSports' recognition as something on a level footing with traditional sports. It allows pro-gamers to be categorized with traditional athletes, and will only serve to further the reach of eSports and gaming. The normalization of a historically stigmatized industry is nothing but good for gaming and gamers alike. Congratulations, viOLet!



Bet reminder: I bet with Tboned51 that Splatoon won't reach the 1 million shipped mark by the end of 2015. I win if he loses and I lose if I lost.

ice on 05 April 2014
badgenome said:
athlete: a person who is trained in or good at sports, games, or exercises that require physical skill and strength

Nope.

Full definition on merriam webster says "a person who is trained or skilled in exercises, sports, or games requiring physical strength, agility, or stamina"