Last April over 21,000 fans were at Wembley Arena in London, shouting and cheering. Thousands more were watching online. But this wasn’t a football, basketball or tennis match. It was esports, or competitive computer gaming. The prize money for the winners: 3 million.
Millions of people in the UK play esports for fun. Some of them have made it their full-time job. It’s not easy being a professional gamer, though. They sit in front of a computer for anywhere from 10-15 hours straight, doing the same thing over and over again, trying to improve on that craft like typing fast. In order to stay fit enough to compete, teams often maintain a consistent gym routine.
As well as playing esports, many people in the UK like watching them too. Esports can be exciting to watch: just like traditional sports, there are close games, last-minute victories and amazing performances. Sometimes online viewers can interact with games.
Despite the word “esports” having “sports” right in the name, there’s still a frequently asked question: are esports really sports? Some say no. While they have a lot of similarities to traditional sports like football, soccer, and basketball, it’s appearing to miss one thing: movement. Physical activity. Esports players don’t need to run, jump, throw or do big physical action. At the moment, the UK government regards esports as kinds of games, not as sports.
But others say yes: esports are sports. Players do need some physical skills, especially hand-eye cooperation, reflexes, accuracy and timing. If darts (飞镖), snooker and shooting are seen as sports, then perhaps esports should be too. In fact, China and South Korea do see esports as sports. And esport is already an official medal sports in the Asian Games since 2022.
For many esports fans and players, though, the most important thing is that esports are growing in popularity and importance. If esports are not as important as sports now, they definitely will be in the near future.
8. What can we learn about esports from the text?
A.Esports are gaining popularity in the UK. |
B.Esports fans just watch games quietly online. |
C.People prefer to watch rather than play esports. |
D.Esports are more interactive than traditional sports. |
9. Which of the following is true about professional esports players?
A.They win big prizes quite easily. | B.They need no physical actions or skills. |
C.They have to go through severe training. | D.They pay little attention to physical conditions. |
10. What is the author’s attitude to the future of esports?
A.Negative. | B.Unclear. | C.Cautious. | D.Optimistic. |
11. which of the following is a suitable title for the text?
A.Next step: the Olympics! | B.Esports: Games or Sports? |
C.The Sports Without Movement. | D.What Makes A Professional Gamer? |