News
Is video gaming really a sport?
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HERE in Pembrokeshire we take sport seriously! Whether its supporting local teams as they advance through country leagues or following the ins and outs of national leagues, there’s a real appetite for sports and sports coverage. While disciplines like football and rugby are still upheld as examples of traditional sporting pursuits, a new discipline has emerged in recent years that is bringing into question just what sports are in the digital era.
eSports, short for electronic sports, is a burgeoning sector of the gaming industry and a hot topic of debate right now. As digital gaming takes centre stage and professional players are participating in elite-level competitive tournaments, the boundaries between physical sporting pursuits and those that are largely mental are becoming increasingly blurred. So, is video gaming really a sport? Let’s find out.
An Introduction to eSports
The origins of eSports, short for ‘electronic sports’, can actually be traced back to the early days of the video gaming industry. Even before 21st century innovations catapulted the sector to the world’s stage, avid gamers were travelling on a national basis to participate in in-person video gaming tournaments and events. The term itself emerged during the late 1990s and, as gaming tech became more advanced, eSports would quickly gain momentum.
Several key events have played a pivotal role in shaping the diverse landscape of competitive gaming. The advent of high-speed internet, cutting-edge PC technology and, of course, the constant development of groundbreaking video games since the early 2000s has launched pro gaming into the mainstream. Meanwhile, titles like League of Legends, StarCraft II and Dota 2 have emerged, providing digital realms for elite-level players to showcase their skills to a global audience.
eSports is now worth somewhere in the region of $1.9 billion and it’s an ecosystem that, much like football, encompasses international tournaments, dedicated leagues, live-streamed competitions, star players and big brands keen to sponsor household names. It is worth noting that electronic sports is actually well connected with the more established mindsports sector. Playing mentally challenging games at a professional, competitive level isn’t limited only to the digital landscape, organised mindsports events have been taking place for decades.
The Mind Sports Olympiad is just one of many international events offering competition in a vast range of “games for mental skill”, such as chess, bridge, draughts, backgammon and Othello. More recently, the classic card game poker has been added to the list of recognised mindsports, possibly in recognition of the fact that it’s now became a lot more accessible to adult gamers thanks to the numerous ways to learn and participate in the game remotely via operators like PokerStars. In fact, the digitalisation of poker has even led many within the gaming industry to unofficially declare it an eSport, particularly since several notable eSports champions are also successful poker players.
Pro Gamers are Athletes Too
Speaking of eSports players, it’s all too easy to assume that the life of a pro gamer is a lot less taxing than a Six Nations rugby player or even a professional snooker player. In truth, however, professional-level gamers are athletes and follow training and performance schedules that are just as packed as those competing in physical sports.
Sure, gamers aren’t exactly sprinting down a football pitch, but the demands of competitive gaming require a unique skillset that takes discipline to accrue. Professional gamers must maintain mental acuity, quick reflexes, and strategic thinking — all of which are crucial elements of traditional sports, too.
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Staying “in shape” for eSports involves rigorous practice schedules, strategic analysis of opponents and maintaining peak cognitive performance. Nutrition, exercise, and mental wellbeing are all integral to a gamer’s success, especially since the top-ranking players regularly need to travel to attend international championships like The International or the League of Legends World Championships.
Does Categorisation Matter?
While nothing will ever take the place of in-person, physical sports events, we are living in an increasingly digitalised world and the roaring success of eSports proves changing tastes of each new generation. Ultimately, what are the attributes that truly define what’s considered a competitive sport? Is it physically, mental prowess or audience engagement? In an era where virtual arenas can draw in millions of viewers and professional gamers become household names, perhaps it’s time to reevaluate traditional definitions.
One thing that is certain, however, is that pro gamers deserve the same respect and recognition for their dedication, skill and passion as athletes and sports players. Whether video gaming is truly a sport, or if gamers are considered athletes or not, there’s no denying the cultural impact of the former or the commitment of pro and budding eSports players.
Community
Public reminded to stay away from Ward’s Yard and Criterion Quay
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THE PORT of Milford Haven is reminding members of the public to stay away from Ward’s Yard in Milford Haven and Criterion Quay (sometimes known as the offshore jetty) in Pembroke Dock due to concerns over public safety.
Despite significant security measures, people continue to access the sites illegally, ignoring and sometimes damaging the onsite signage and fences.
Niall Yeomans, Head of Health, Safety and Security at the Port of Milford Haven said: “Safety is our key priority. Members of the public are continuously putting themselves and members of our team at risk of serious harm by trespassing in these areas.”
“Both Ward’s Yard and Criterion Quay are unsafe for public access. They are isolated areas next to deep water and are susceptible to slips, trips and falls.”
Both sites are owned by the Port of Milford Haven and are private property. Anyone found onsite without consent is trespassing, and any criminal damage could result in prosecution.
Anyone who sees any suspicious activity at Ward’s Yard or Criterion Quay is asked to contact Dyfed Powys Police on 101 urgently.
Crime
‘Sophisticated’ organised crime gang trafficked cocaine and cannabis to Aberystwyth
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FIVE people have been found guilty or admitted to conspiring to supply cocaine and cannabis as Dyfed-Powys Police continues its efforts to dismantle organised crime gangs.
Officers seized cocaine with a street value of more than £400,000 from gang members, who continually changed tactics to avoid arrest.
Six defendants have appeared in court in the latest phase of Dyfed-Powys Police’s Operation Burleigh, which sought to disrupt the trafficking and onward supply of class A and B drugs into Aberystwyth, with all but one admitting their charges or being found guilty by a jury.
This brings the total number of people awaiting sentence under the operation to 15.
The court heard that officers from Dyfed-Powys Police’s Serious and Organised Crime Team and Ceredigion Priority Policing Team led the investigation into the OCG, which was described as ‘sophisticated, well-organised and evolving’.
Detective Sergeant Steven Jones said: “This conspiracy operated on a County Lines model, where controlled drugs are trafficked into a smaller rural town from a larger city, and the operation is controlled by one or more ‘drugs lines’.
“In this case there were a total of four lines controlling the supply of cocaine and cannabis within Aberystwyth.
“The conspirators frequently evolved their actions to frustrate the authorities and evade capture.”
The OCG embedded members were mainly asylum seekers brought to Aberystwyth by Toana Ahmad and another man who remains outstanding, with the sole purpose of dealing drugs. The drug lines were initially based in Swansea, and later in areas of Birmingham.
Three properties – on Terrace Road, Alexander Road and Parc Graig Glas – were identified early in the investigation as being used to house the OCG members embedded in Aberystwyth. Substantial amounts of cash, controlled drugs and weapons were recovered from these properties, and from the people found inside.
When arrests were made, the gang changed its tactics. Drugs began to be supplied from vehicles, and OCG members stayed in guest houses to avoid detection.
DS Jones added: “Trusted couriers were employed to transport drugs to Aberystwyth and cash back to Birmingham or Swansea. A number of vehicles, including taxis, were used as the gang attempted to avoid detection along the route, while trains were also taken when courier cars were stopped by officers.”
In June 2023, two vehicles travelling from the West Midlands towards Aberystwyth were stopped by police on consecutive days. A black sock was uncovered in the engine of the first car, which was found to contain 82g of high purity cocaine divided into 169 grip seal plastic bags.
Davinder Singh, who previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply class A and class B drugs, was the driver of the second vehicle, which was a taxi. A blue plastic bag was seen falling out of his shorts, which contained over 81g of high purity cocaine divided into 167 grip seal bags.
DS Jones said: “On the basis that the amounts of cocaine transported over the 37 couriers over the course of the conspiracy period were similar, over 3kg of cocaine would have been conveyed to Aberystwyth from Birmingham.
“This equates to class A drugs with a potential street value of over £308,950. In addition to this, class A drugs were seized from individuals and addresses with a potential street value of £103,445, along with cash totalling £11,687.
“A number of teams and departments across Dyfed-Powys Police, from analysts, CCTV operators and priority policing teams, to CAB, the Technical Support Unit, Economic Crime Team and Force Intelligence Bureau all assisted in dismantling the OCG from top to bottom.
“Their dedication and relentless efforts have assisted in making Aberystwyth a safer place to live without the threat and harm of drugs being made easily available on the street.”
After a seven-week trial at Swansea Crown Court earlier this year, the following three defendants were found guilty for their parts in the conspiracy:
- Toana Ahmad, aged 33, of Lee Gardens in Smethwich, West Midlands
- Barzan Sarhan, aged 31, of no fixed address
- Ahmed Piro, aged 26, of no fixed address
The jury failed to reach a verdict on two defendants during the earlier trial. They have been subject to a retrial starting on July 1, with the following outcomes:
- Hawre Ahmed, aged 35, of Pinderfields Road, Wakefield, West Yorkshire, was found guilty by the jury of conspiracy to supply Class A and B controlled drugs.
- Diar Yousef Zeabari, aged 35, of Flat 5, 41 Bryn Road, Swansea, was found not guilty of conspiracy to supply Class A and B controlled drugs.
Karwan Karim, aged 39 of 125 Griffith John Street, Swansea, also stood trial, and pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A and B controlled drugs on day three.
In addition to the OCG members found guilty during the most recent trials, the following have previously pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy to supply class A and class B drugs under Operation Burleigh:
- Davinder Singh, aged 36, of Huntingdon Road, West Bromwich
- Daban Khalil, aged 23, of Streetly Road, Birmingham
- Kastro Omar, aged 30, of Junction Road, Northampton
- Karwan Jabari, aged 26, of Weedon Close, Northampton
- Walid Younis Abdal, aged 34, of St Anne’s Road, Doncaster
- Saman Aziz, aged 41, of Kirk Road, Merseyside
- Adel Mustafa, aged 39, of Hubert Road, Newport
- Charlotte Roberts, aged 21, of Sutton Hill, Telford
The following have previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply class A drugs:
- Akasha Smith, aged 24, of Third Avenue, Aberystwyth
- Luqman Jarjis, aged 21, of Wake Green Road, Birmingham
News
Community asked for views on allocation of new St Davids homes
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THE FIRST phase of Pembrokeshire County Council’s Glasfryn housing development in St Davids is progressing well with the second phase also underway.
The development being built by GRD Homes Ltd, began in November 2023, with a first phase completion date of Winter 2024 looking hopeful, ahead of the scheduled plans.
The first phase consists of seven properties, including a mixture of one and two bedroom bungalows
As completion draws closer the properties will be advertised via Pembrokeshire Choice Homes.
Ahead of this, the Council’s housing team will be holding community engagement on the 13th August 2024 at the Ty’r Pererin Centres, Quickwell Hill, St Davids, SA62 6PD, 5pm-7pm.
This will be a chance for officers to liaise with the local community about the allocation process for these properties.
Glasfryn’s second phase is well underway, with the initial groundwork already completed. This phase includes a further 11 two bedroom bungalows, with a completion date in late 2025.
These bungalows will meet the latest Welsh Government’s Development Quality Requirement, and will be energy efficient, built to EPC A specification and include solar panels to help tenants with running costs.
The Glasfryn development is funded in partnership with Welsh Government.
Cabinet Member for Housing Cllr Michelle Bateman said: “We are really keen to work with the community on a local lettings policy for these new properties, as we have done for our developments in other parts of the County.”
If you have any queries please email the Customer Liaison Team on [email protected], phone them on 01437 764551, or visit Housing’s Facebook page.
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