When I told my grandfather that some of my friends train for several hours a day to compete in video-game tournaments, he looked at me as if I had told him they were training to become professional sleepers. "That's not a sport," he said firmly. "A sport makes you sweat." I understand his reaction, but I think he is only partly right. Competitive gaming, or e-sports, deserves more respect than it usually gets, even if its critics raise some fair points.
Over the past two decades, e-sports have grown from small gatherings of fans into a global industry. Large tournaments now fill entire arenas, and millions of people watch them online. Professional players belong to teams, have coaches, follow strict training schedules and even study recordings of their opponents, exactly as football players do. Some universities, particularly in the United States, now offer scholarships to talented gamers.
Supporters argue that top-level gaming demands genuine skills. Players need lightning-fast reactions, precise hand-eye coordination and the ability to make complex decisions under pressure, often in a fraction of a second. Team games require constant communication and cooperation. Chess has long been recognized as a "mind sport", they point out, so why should a strategy game played on a screen be treated differently?
Critics, on the other hand, worry about the effects on young people's health. Sitting in front of a screen for many hours can lead to back and wrist pain, poor sleep and a lack of physical activity. Some parents fear that the dream of becoming a professional gamer encourages teenagers to neglect their schoolwork, even though only a tiny number of players ever earn a living from playing. These concerns are serious, and I share some of them.
However, the problem is not e-sports themselves but the way some people approach them. Many professional teams now encourage their players to exercise, eat well and sleep regularly, because a tired, unfit player makes slow decisions. In other words, success in e-sports depends on the same healthy habits as success in any other sport. Perhaps the question we should be asking is not whether gaming counts as a sport, but how to help young gamers play in a balanced way. As for my grandfather, I have invited him to watch a tournament with me next month. He has agreed — as long as I join him for his morning walk first.