Strani pravni život (Jan 2019)
Possibility of legal qualification of electronic sport as a sport
Abstract
The paper examines legal nature of electronic sports (e-sport) in the light of sports law. The authors sought an answer to the question whether the electronic sport could be qualified as a kind of sport. E-sport could be understood as a competitive playing of video games, but also as one of the fastest growing industry in the world. However, position of this massive social activity remains unclear because of its shady legal nature. The answer to the question of its legal nature will clarify whether e-sports players can be recognized as professional sport players, whether sports federations could be organized in area of e-sport, whether this sport could participate in international sports events, etc. In seeking the answer, authors analysed the most important international documents in the field of sports, with special emphasis on the definition of sport as a social phenomenon and the principles on which it is based. Also, the paper analyses the most important arguments for and against stance of e-sport as a special kind of sport. Authors used systematic approach, as well as comparative legal method.
