New Mexico becomes latest to allow video games as a sport

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
MARCH 07, 2019 02:26 PM,
UPDATED 45 MINUTES AGO



FILE - In this May 24, 2018 file photo, Eisenhower High School students in Decatur, Ill., play a video game after the school announced it is starting an e-sport competitive gaming team. New Mexico is joining Illinois and a handful of other states in allowing high school students to participate in the growing sport of e-sports. HERALD & REVIEW VIA AP, FILE CLAY JACKSON
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.


New Mexico is joining a handful of other states in allowing high school students to participate in a growing sport — video games.

Around three dozen high schools are competing in the state's inaugural e-sports season that began last month, and more schools may join as athletic officials consider adding a fall season.

Under the rules set by the New Mexico Activities Association, students compete in three different game titles including League of Legends, Rocket League and Smite.

At least six other states — Rhode Island, Illinois, Connecticut, Kentucky, Massachusetts and Georgia — allow students to compete in e-sports as an officially sanctioned high school activity.
The e-sports season, which runs from late February through mid-April, is expected to draw about 500 students who will participate in 5-on-5 matchups

Read more: https://www.kentucky.com/news/business/article227229194.html

[Garion_55]

1. I have been playing video games since the late 1970s

They are not a sport

[DRoseDARs]

2. I've been playing video games (PC mostly) since the late 1980s. They are a cerebral sport.

Depending on the franchise being played, a given game can require a high degree of skill, strategic thinking and planning, or hand-eye coordination and "thinking on one's feet" as it were to master and compete at with others. They're no different than any other cerebral sport. I agree that it isn't a replacement for physical activities, but I flatly and firmly disagree with dismissal of games as just "kids' stuff" that is so common. Even the military recognizes that gaming hones skills that are directly translatable into their line of work. Yes, that means shooting targets, but also tele-operation, logistics and strategic planning.

[LanternWaste]

3. Fits well within the definition

Unless one limits the definition to 'physical sports'... as both chess and bridge have been included in the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) list of recognized sports.

But I get it... when we're uncomfortable with language, we often rationalize denials to ourselves for comfort.

[rpannier]

4. But in high school, those are clubs, not sports

[keithbvadu2]

5. Call it a 'skill' but not a sport.

Call it a 'skill' but not a sport.

[tclambert]

6. Grand Theft Auto in the Olympics next?