Sports, Games and Entertainment

So, even before this Olympics thing took over every information medium I use, I had been thinking a bit about E-sports. It is a perennial pub topic: the relationships and crossover between sports and games, and why various specific sports are or are not in the Olympics. It all seems to stem from the fact that some sports (most notably archery and shooting) don't require a great deal of physical exertion, although they obviously require physical skill. So, if they are represented at these events, then what about others, for example motor-sports.

I think it inevitable that we will see e-sports at the Olympics in the future. Not all computer games are suitable, obviously. We wouldn't want it to turn into button bashing, or to be decided by luck. But competitive gaming is a growing area, and so is it's following. There are games that are sufficiently "deep" so as to allow you to improve indefinitely.

Here's a nice and not unrelated quote that I like. Sean Plott:

Starcraft requires the keyboard skill of a virtuoso pianist, the mind of a chess grandmaster and the dedication of an Olympian.

 Maybe we could update the events in the heptathlon again. I think it is reasonable that there is a mix of sprinting and endurance, throwing and jumping. But what about even more variety - in no particular order.

1. 110m hurdles.
2. 3000m run, or maybe 1500 or some other long distance.
3. Cricket ball throwing. Why isn't there just a ball throwing event?
4. High jump
5. Swimming - don't care how far. Just get them in the pool.
6. Archery - let's have some skill as well as physical power
7. Go - my personal favourite. Why not use the power of computers to let the competitors play against each other in and around the other events. It's going to take 2 or more days anyway, right. So I don't think it is too much to play 5-10 consecutive games over those days.

Maybe putting go (or chess) in a heptathlon is a bit like chess boxing. You're going to be tired from all the running and what not, but still have to use your brain and think critically. I guess the problem would be to ensure there is no cheating. Like you can't really keep the competitors locked down for two days.

My other idea is even crazier. You get your athletes to sign up for the heptathlon, but nobody knows what the events are going to be. Then on the first morning they are announced - and they could be any of the individual events going on in the Olympics. Maybe track cycling, maybe boxing, maybe the marathon. It's like my approach to exams - preparation should be thoroughly understanding the subject rather than cramming facts and formulas. Surely the best man would win. Instead of "javelin is one of her weaker events" you might hear, "she has never picked up an épée in her life".