Is Playing Video Games a Sport?

Fans line up outside the stadium for hours. They wear T-shirts showing off their favorite teams and players. Inside, thousands of people wait for the competition to start. Excitement builds as people snap selfies. TV cameras get ready to film the action.

When the players come out, the crowd goes wild. The sound of people cheering fills the air. But this isn’t the Super Bowl. The players aren’t on a field or a court. They’re sitting at computers, tapping away at keyboards.

Welcome to the League of Legends World Championship. It’s one of the biggest video game competitions in the world.

Fans line up outside the stadium for hours. They wear T-shirts showing off their favorite teams and players. Inside, thousands of people wait for the competition to start. People take selfies. TV cameras wait to film the action.

When the players come out, the crowd goes wild. The sound of people cheering fills the air. But this isn’t the Super Bowl. The players aren’t on a field or a court. They’re sitting at computers, tapping away at keyboards.

Welcome to the League of Legends World Championship. It’s one of the biggest video game competitions in the world.

Fans line up outside the stadium for hours, wearing T-shirts that show off their favorite teams and players. Inside, thousands of people wait for the competition to start. Excitement builds as people snap selfies. TV cameras get ready to film the action.

When the players appear, the crowd goes wild. The sound of thousands of people cheering fills the air. But this isn’t the Super Bowl. The players aren’t on a field or a court. They’re sitting at computers, tapping away at keyboards.

Welcome to the League of Legends World Championship, one of the biggest video game competitions in the world.

Video game competitions are known as e-sports, or electronic sports. And they’ve been getting bigger and more popular every year. In fact, 200 million people watched the most recent League of Legends World Championship. Only about 103 million people watched the 2018 Super Bowl.

As e-sports become more popular, some people are starting to argue that gaming is a real sport. They point out that just like sports, video games require serious skills. Gamers need to be able to focus. They must stay completely calm under pressure. And they also practice for hours to get their fingers moving super-fast.

That’s why some schools are already calling video games a sport. At Robert Morris University in Illinois, the e-sports team is part of the athletic department. The players attend practice four days a week. And they can even get scholarships for being on the team.

Video game competitions are known as e-sports (electronic sports). And they’re getting bigger and more popular every year. In fact, 200 million people watched the most recent League of Legends World Championship. Only about 103 million people watched the 2018 Super Bowl.

Some people say that gaming is a real sport. They point out that just like sports, gaming takes serious skills. Gamers need to be able to focus. They must stay calm under pressure. And they practice for hours.

Some schools are already calling video games a sport. At Robert Morris University in Illinois, the e-sports team is part of the athletic department. The players practice four days a week. And they can even get scholarships for being on the team.

Video game competitions, known as e-sports (electronic sports), have been increasing in size and popularity every year. In fact, 200 million people watched the most recent League of Legends World Championship. Only about 103 million people watched the 2018 Super Bowl.

As e-sports increase in popularity, some people are starting to argue that gaming is a real sport. They point out that just like sports, video games require serious skills. Gamers need to be able to focus and remain completely calm under intense pressure. And they also practice for hours to get their fingers moving super-fast.

That’s why some schools are already calling video games a sport. At Robert Morris University in Illinois, the e-sports team is part of the athletic department. The players attend practice four days a week. And they can even get scholarships for being on the team.

Cooper Neill/Getty Images

A fan at an e-sports competition roots for Astralis, her favorite gaming team.

So e-sports are popular, and the players are skilled. But does that make video games a sport?

Some say that there’s one important thing that makes a sport a sport: physical activity. And Fortnite just doesn’t get your heart pumping the way that soccer and track do.

In fact, gaming might even have the opposite effect of sports. Many team sports force you to go outside. They also teach you teamwork. When you’re playing video games, you’re often sitting inside by yourself.

Plus, e-sports may have millions of fans and fierce competition. But so do the singing competitions you watch on TV, like The Voice. Would you call that a sport?

One thing is for sure: E-sports are here to stay. And the debate about what to call them will continue. So here’s an idea: Why do e-sports need to be a sport? Perhaps they can be their very own thing—different, but just as fun.

So e-sports are popular, and the players are skilled. But does that make video games a sport?

Some say that one important part of sports is physical activity. And Fortnite doesn’t get your heart pumping like soccer and track do.

Gaming might even have the opposite effect of sports. Many sports are played outside. They involve teamwork. Video games are often played indoors and alone.

E-sports may have millions of fans and fierce competition. But so do singing competitions on TV, like The Voice. Would you call that a sport?

One thing is for sure: E-sports are here to stay. And the debate about what to call them isn’t over. So here’s an idea: Do e-sports need to be a sport? Maybe they can be their own thing, different but just as fun.

So e-sports are popular, and the players are skilled. But does that make video games a sport?

Some say that one important part of sports is physical activity. And Fortnite doesn’t get your heart pumping like soccer and track do.

Gaming might even have the opposite effect of sports. Many sports are played outside. They involve teamwork. Video games are often played indoors and alone.

E-sports may have millions of fans and fierce competition. But so do singing competitions on TV, like The Voice. Would you call that a sport?

One thing is for sure: E-sports are here to stay. And the debate about what to call them isn’t over. So here’s an idea: Do e-sports need to be a sport? Maybe they can be their own thing, different but just as fun.