Should Esports Be Considered A Sport?

The age old question of whether esports is a sport has been debated for years, and for me, as someone who’s followed competitive gaming closely, especially titles like Valorant, and Counter Strike, I believe esports deserves to be recognized as a legitimate sport, even if it doesn’t entirely fit into the idea of what traditional and conventional sports should be.

Esports, short for electronic sports, is a form of competition using video games. Esports usually takes the form of multiplayer games or player versus player games, mostly played by professional players either individually or as a team. The first esports tournament for the game Sapcewar was held at Stanford University’s Artificial Intelligence Laboratory in 1972. The event was known as the Intergalactic Spacewar Olympics and was sponsored by the Rolling Stones magazine. The most common video game genres in esports include First-Person Shooters (FPS), Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA), fighting games and battle royales. 

Though esports was technically recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the form of esport I shall be discussing is slightly different compared to those recognised by the IOC, which is a simulation of physical activities.

One of the reasons that convince me the most is the level of competition involved. Take the Valorant Champions Tour (VCT), for example. It’s the biggest esports event Valorant has to offer, bringing together the best teams from around the world. In 2024, the finals of VCT drew over a peak of 1.4 million viewers, which is comparable to many major traditional sports events. Watching that final felt no different from watching the Super Bowl or a World Cup match—the intensity, the skill on display, and the excitement were all there. The fact that so many people tuned in shows how serious and ubiquitous the competition is.

Then there’s the huge amount of dedication that players put in. Professional esports players train just as hard as any traditional athlete. They spend hours perfecting their mechanics, reflexes, and game sense. When I think about the professional players who play FPS, it’s clear they’re not just casually playing games; rather they’re pushing their minds and bodies to the limit to compete at the highest level. In that way, it feels a lot like traditional sports where athletes dedicate their lives to perfecting their craft.

Another aspect of esports that stands out to me is the teamwork and strategy involved. In many games, communication and coordination are essential. Watching teams execute complex strategies and outsmart their opponents in real time reminds me of watching football or basketball, where every move counts, and you have to rely on your teammates to succeed. The strategic depth in esports is just as rich as in traditional sports.

Some people argue that esports isn’t a real sport because it doesn’t involve physical exertion. However, I think it misses the point. Sports like chess or Formula 1 racing, which are recognized as sports, don’t rely heavily on physical factors either. Instead, they demand intense mental focus and quick decision-making—just like esports. Plus, esports players need exceptional hand-eye coordination and reflexes, which, to me, is its own form of physical skill. It’s not running or lifting weights, but it’s just as demanding in its own way.

In the end, when I look at everything esports has to offer—the competition, the skill, the teamwork, and the dedication—it feels like a sport to me. It might not look like conventional sports, but it has all the qualities that make those sports exciting and worthy of recognition. As an avid watcher, my observations tell me that esports is in fact a sport, and its players should be recognised for their efforts.

Naomi

Secondary 3 Justice

2025