Olympians in their own right

Gamers from around the world are competing in Paris for the chance to win $200,000 in prize money, reports the BBC.

The Electronic Sports World Cup has attracted 750 players who are putting their Counterstrike, Quake 4, Warcraft 3 and other game skills to the test.

The tournament has attracted many professional game players, some of which earn hundreds of thousands of dollars a year in what adamant critics dub a leisure sport at best. The contest is the culmination of a championship series that began with regional events.

Some professional players are sought out by marketers hoping to use their personalities for promotional purposes.