Making eSports fun and healthy

SAIT Athletics embraces gaming community and eSports

At first glance, any connection between student wellness and the multi-player computer game trend known as eSports may be unclear. But SAIT’s new intramural eSports program — presented by the Athletics and Recreation department in partnership with Microsoft, The Gateway and SAITSA — brings student gamers together to meet new people and enjoy competitive gaming in a fun, safe environment.

Wearing headsets, the student gamers share friendly banter while competing with each other online in a series of tournaments featuring games like NHL 2018 or Counter-Strike.

SAIT’s Recreation Programmer Jared Hidber says it’s also a way of bringing video-gamers into the recreational facilities on campus. “Professional eGamers nowadays go to the gym to work out and they eat healthy.

“This program is a chance for students to learn healthy ways to play online, to see the recreational facilities on campus, and have a good experience here at SAIT.”

After the program’s first year, Hidber is researching ways to grow the eGaming community at SAIT and exploring the possibility of tournaments with other schools in Alberta.