Stop Trying to Get Video Games into the Olympics

Tristan Ettleman
Sep 4, 2018 · 3 min read

President of the Olympic International Committee Thomas Bach took a stand against violent video games in the historic sports competition over the weekend. He said “killer games” are “contradictory” to the events. That’s fine, although I think this mindset extends beyond violent games. Putting aside his argument that fencing and combat sports are contextualized by the rules and circumstances of the event (yeah, you’re not actually killing people in video games either), there’s not really a major reason why esports can’t be a part of the Olympics. I mean, yeah, curling is still a part of the winter games, and even stranger events like speed walking have been a part of the Olympics in the past. But, like I said, it’s fine. Just stop trying to get video games into the Olympics.

Look, I get it. Esports as a part of the Olympics could be a huge legitimization of the video game medium, but it also highlights the strange dilemma of the art form…or is it an art form? Video games are the only artistic medium, besides dancing I suppose, that is also treated as a competitive activity. And I think the competitive aspects of video games, which are increasingly becoming the focus of them, are the least interesting things about them. Nevertheless, I engage in those competitive games often. I enjoy them. And millions and millions of other people do, with major esports events pulling in huge viewing numbers, in-person crowds, and prize pools.

But, of course, the Olympics are even bigger. There’s a prestige there that cannot be captured by relatively insular events, although esports events span international borders unlike most any other sport besides soccer. But it’s clear, long before these comments from Bach, that Olympic organizers don’t want video games in their displays of sportsmanship. It’s a little tone deaf and defeatist, especially as a huge fan of video games, to say “Just let it go, eventually leadership and minds will change.” But that’s going to have just be what happens. Video games don’t need to be a part of the Olympics to be legitimized. They don’t need to be adapted into movies to be culturally relevant. They don’t need to have TV shows all about them to get discussion about them into people’s homes. And that’s been clear for nearly two decades. Legacy media, and in this case, traditional sporting events aren’t really equipped to handle the culture of video games, for all the good and bad that comes along with that.

I really do think some form of esports will eventually make its way into the Olympics, but it could very well be decades from now. In the meantime, the players who compete in the biggest events of their industry can keep doing their thing, to the point that colleges start esports departments and host tournaments and game companies organize leagues with a comprehensive plan to match traditional sports leagues. Video games are not some marginalized, mistreated medium. There are plenty of people who make fun of them and see them as lesser, but there are many more who play and enjoy them. Esports and video game fans are not victims of an oppressive Olympic committee. There are plenty more options than the old models.

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