Esports have returned to generate controversy with the old discussion already known by the gaming industry. This time, it was Ana Moser, the current Minister of Sports, who brought an old debate to the media, stating that she did not consider electronic sports as a sport in fact, in addition to revealing that she saw electronic competitions as something that is part of the entertainment industry, as well as like the music.
Sports Minister explains her position on esports
In an interview given to UOL, minister Ana Moser made a point of making her position on esports very clear. For the minister, electronic sports are predictable and programmed, which differentiates them from sports. Ana Moser even compared esports athletes with artists.
In my opinion, e-sport is an entertainment industry, not a sport. So, you have fun playing video games, you had fun. “Ah, but people train to do it”. He trains, just like the artist. I said these days, just like Ivete Sangalo also trains to put on a show and she is not a music athlete. She is simply an artist who works in entertainment. Electronic gaming is not unpredictable. It is designed by digital, cybernetic programming. It’s a schedule, it’s closed, it’s not open, like sports
No investment for esports
To make the controversy even greater, Ana Moser was completely contrary to the idea of the Ministry of Sport carrying out any investment in relation to esports. The minister even recalled that the NGO “Atletas pelo Brasil” fought so that electronic sports could not be included in the concept of sport. Ana Moser defined the possibility of investing in electronic competitive scenarios as a “risk”, and she will continue working to prevent it from becoming a reality.
The issue of e-sports at the federal level is not yet a reality. I don’t have that intention [de realizar invesitmento]. As far as I’m concerned, it’s not a sport. We fought, last year, I in my previous life, at the head of Atletas pelo Brasil, we took a very strong action with the Legislative for the text of the General Law not to be open enough to be able to fit electronic sports . The text is there protecting the root sport. In the definition of sport, an opening had been given that could include electronic sports, and we closed that definition in order not to run that risk. Of course, risk always happens, and it’s constant work.
