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July 24, 2008 9:11:30 AM CDT

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Cyber Game Olympics Vie for Mainstream

Posted Oct 7, 07 7:02 PM CDT in US,  Technology,  Arts & Living,  Sports 

(Newser) – The 700 gamers in Seattle this weekend aren’t lonely basement-dwellers, say World Cyber Games planners: They're gifted athletes competing in “e-sports.” Organizers hope that such sportsmen will claw into the mainstream and bypass other fringe athletes like poker players and competitive eaters. “The goal is to one day be recognized as on par with the Olympics or the World Cup,” says one.

Americans haven't embraced the televised games, but they play big in South Korea, where contest winners can walk off with $100 thousand prizes, Reuters reports. Koreans are among the favored this weekend, as 74 countries vie for medals and amaze with their hand-eye speed: One 22-year-old US pro can clock 500 actions per minute while strategizing over the popular "StarCraft: Brood War."

Source Reuters

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In this photo provided by World Cyber Games, from left, Brad Early, 16, and Andrew Bui, 16, both of Puyallup, Wash., play Halo 3 for Xbox 360 for the first time in the Microsoft competition lounge at...   (Associated Press)
In this photo released by World Cyber Games, the world's largest computer and video game festival, Mykola Poplavskyi of the Ukraine CS_team reacts as his teammate makes a play during single elimination...   (Associated Press)
In this photo provided by World Cyber Games, Julian Duaite, of Team Columbia, tries out Xbox 360 Project Gotham Racing at the World Cyber Games 2007 Grand Final in Seattle, on Thursday, Oct., 4, 2007....   (Associated Press)
In this photo released by World Cyber Games, the world's largest computer and video game festival, Tomi Kovanen, of the roccat team from Finland reacts as his team wins a round during single elimination...   (Associated Press)
In this image provide by the World Cyber Games, Team China celebrates their win over Germany in Counter-Strike Thursday, Oct. 4, 2007 in Seattle. Over 700 players from 74 countries are competing for medals,...   (Associated Press)
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