Should Computer Games be Considered Sports

Some sectors of society are pushing for the inclusion of some computer games to become part of the sporting world. The main contention is that some games have the element of competition and are being played by various people of different colours and races. Indeed, computer games have become such a global phenomenon that their popularity is no longer a point of debate.

It can even be argued that a great number of young people are more engaged in playing computer games than they are with participating in any particular sport. Some of the types of computer games that are highly pushed to be sports include some role-playing, build-and-conquer simulations, and a few classic computer games.

In various corners of the world, there are also computer game competitions and festivals being held yearly. In South Korea, for example, computer game competitions are so popular that the elite gamers are treated like rock stars. There is even a television channel or two in that country that solely broadcast computer games. Furthermore, there is sufficient corporate backing in holding computer game events because the young market is very much hooked on these games.

It seems to be a hopeful notion at this point for computer games to be known as sports. However, taking into account the reality of our time and technology, it is only a matter of a few years before this proposition is taken into serious consideration by the right governing bodies. It holds no water to contend that computer games cannot be sports because they do not involve much physical challenge. If that is the case, now what do you have to say about chess?