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Video Games: Not a Legitimate Sport

The document argues that video games should not be classified as a legitimate sport due to the lack of physical activity and exertion involved. It highlights the negative impacts of gaming on health, particularly in children, such as obesity and increased anxiety, contrasting these with the benefits of traditional sports. The author emphasizes that skill alone does not define a sport, using chess as an example, and calls for the preservation of the traditional definition of sports.

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izzaha573
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7 views1 page

Video Games: Not a Legitimate Sport

The document argues that video games should not be classified as a legitimate sport due to the lack of physical activity and exertion involved. It highlights the negative impacts of gaming on health, particularly in children, such as obesity and increased anxiety, contrasting these with the benefits of traditional sports. The author emphasizes that skill alone does not define a sport, using chess as an example, and calls for the preservation of the traditional definition of sports.

Uploaded by

izzaha573
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Video Games are NOT a legitimate sport:

We are here today to discuss a critical issue that affects us all in one way or another. Gaming or
basically playing competitive video games is definitely NOT a legitimate sport. According to
[Link] and of course, Google, a sport is defined as something that is an athletic activity
requiring skill and physical prowess. In order for something to be defined as a sport, there needs
to be physical activity involved in it, otherwise it is not a sport. There is no physical exertion
involved in video games and in fact, according to the National Library of Medicine, gaming has
a tremendous negative effect on a child’s obesity, leading to a sedentary lifestyle. Although video
games may provide cognitive and social benefits, research shows that when video games are
often overplayed, they can lead to addiction and excessive screen time, traits not aligned with the
positive physical and mental health impacts often attributed to sports. I firmly believe that sports
are often rooted in traditions of physical contests, sportsmanship and physical competition while
video games may be seen primarily as a form of entertainment and skillful competition but not as
a physical contest. Also, it is bringing about much harm to adolescents, considering the excessive
amount of screen time, and an increase in anxiety and blood pressure due to excitement and
stress.
A traditional sport genuinely removes stress and anxiety and it also doesn’t make your dopamine
levels skyrocket which is very harmful for your brain. Video games, on the other hand, are the
complete opposite and instead, according to the Washington Post, a 1998 study showed that
video games increased the dopamine levels of the brain by 100%, which is one of the key
reasons of my position meaning, video games absolutely cannot be a sport if you are gaining this
from them compared to a traditional sport. Plus, this was a 1998 study, so nowadays, the
situation may be even more worse. Today, we have proved to you why video games cannot be a
sport. The opposition argued that video games require skill, but skill alone does not define a
sport. Chess also requires skill but is not considered a sport due to the lack of physical activity. If
we redefine sports to include video games, we are removing the meaning of what sports have
represented for centuries, tests of human physical strength and endurance. Let’s preserve that
legacy. For these reasons that I have stated above, I urge you to stand with us in affirming that
video games cannot be considered as a legitimate sport.

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