Pro Gamers to Carry Olympic Torch

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Gaming peripheral maker Razer today sent word that the BOCOG has selected ten professional gamers to carry the Olympic torch for different legs as it travels through China. Razer is particularly proud of this since two of those gamers are sponsored by the mouse maker.

“It’s a great honor for me to be part of something so special. Bearing the Olympic flame is a once in a lifetime opportunity and one I will treasure, not only because I’m from China, but also because I represent e-sports, which is a discipline growing in popularity,” said XiaoFeng “Sky” Li.

Fellow torch bearer Jaeho “Moon” Jang commented, “It will be amazing being part of the contingent bearing the Olympic torch. The Olympics comes around once every four years, and this is an opportunity for me, and everyone to embody the Olympic spirit and bring greater awareness to e-sports."

The 2008 Olympic Games will also feature the GGL's Digital Games Worldwide Tournament as an Official Welcome Event. GGL, in partnership with China Internet Gaming (CIG) and the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad (BOCOG), will organize and co-produce the event.

I want to say something smart assy here, but I have a feeling you guys will come up with something.

Steve Gibson is the cofounder of Shacknews.com. Originally known as sCary's Quakeholio back in 1996, Steve is now President of Gearbox Publishing after selling Shacknews to GameFly in 2009.

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From The Chatty
  • reply
    April 19, 2008 11:50 AM

    [deleted]

    • reply
      April 19, 2008 11:58 AM

      There are just too many angles to hit this one with, it's boggeling the mind

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        April 19, 2008 12:01 PM

        yeah that was pretty much the problem i was facing! cant decide!

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      April 19, 2008 12:13 PM

      The Olympics are centered around "SPORTS". Professional gaming is not a sport. Silly gamers. Then again, maybe the Wii is changing all of that? Hmmm...

      Sport: An activity involving physical exertion and skill that is governed by a set of rules or customs and often undertaken competitively.

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        April 19, 2008 12:24 PM

        [deleted]

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          April 19, 2008 12:26 PM

          I can run a half marathon yet not score a single point in basketball or artistic gymnastics, your point?

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          April 19, 2008 12:34 PM

          They are "professionals" just not "athletes"

          It is like playing chess. Or golf.

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        April 19, 2008 12:26 PM

        While not part of the games so far, the IOC also recognizes Bowling, Chess and Billiard as sports, which aren't exactly any more physically exerting than games.

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          April 19, 2008 12:41 PM

          Try playing 12-24 games of bowling in one day, as several competitions require, and say it's not physically exerting.

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            April 19, 2008 1:18 PM

            hahah

            first thought was immediately of bill murray in kingpin...

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            April 19, 2008 1:18 PM

            Try playing 12 hours of nerve-wrecking Starcraft with pros and not come out physically devastated by the sheer anxiety and adrenaline.

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              April 19, 2008 1:47 PM

              By that definition you could label almost any activity a sport in one way or another.

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                April 19, 2008 6:23 PM

                almost any competative activity is already labeled a sport.

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                April 19, 2008 7:19 PM

                Try to have 12 hours of Sex with pros and not come out physically devestated.

                not to mention getting the crabs.

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          April 19, 2008 8:47 PM

          is ping pong still an olympic sport?

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        April 19, 2008 12:37 PM

        Yeah "e-sports" makes me laugh every time.

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        April 19, 2008 4:02 PM

        *shrug* It's not just athletes that participate in the torch relay.

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        April 19, 2008 6:23 PM

        is poker a sport is chess a sport is golf a fucking sport? lol Theres a fuckton of non-sport sports in this world.

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          April 20, 2008 2:52 AM

          No no yes. The hint is the first two involve being sat down.

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        April 19, 2008 6:54 PM

        Olympic GAMES

        GAMES GAMES GAMES GAMES GAMES GAMES GAMES GAMES GAMES GAMES GAMES GAMES GAMES GAMES GAMES GAMES GAMES GAMES GAMES GAMES GAMES GAMES GAMES GAMES

      • reply
        April 19, 2008 8:02 PM

        Is Chess a sport? Is Shooting a sport?

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