Thoughts on International Play (long)

I was pondering something today. Paintball has become such a huge international sport these days that it has the potential to grow faster in the next ten years than was ever imagined within the first twenty. Through message boards, magazines, and videos I’ve seen or heard of paintball being played everywhere from Venezuela to Estonia, Moldova and The People’s Republic of China. The question this brings up for me is this; as the sport/game of paintball continues to grow and become more affordable for people all over the world, and paintball players begin to travel internationally for big-games and events, how do we present ourselves, not as individual players, but as ambassadors of the game from another country?

The availability of paintball equipment is staggering when you think about it. Almost anyone, anywhere in the world, can purchase a dealer-pack of markers, masks, and CO2 tanks for $1,000USD or less. CO2 is produced and bottled in every country of the world (CocaCola and Pepsi-Co have guaranteed that), paint can be shipped by the pallet or by the warehouse to almost anywhere by land, sea, or air. Individuals across the pond can purchase personal equipment via Amazon or other international sellers and have their equipment within days and keep up with the ongoing technological revolution of the sport here in the US. The logistical systems that were already in place for the sport through international shipping and sales allow anyone with enough money to buy a cheap marker, mask, air-source, and paint to play anywhere in the world. From South Africa to the far reaches of the Russian interior, people are buying new and used equipment, setting up fields, and introducing the game/sport to a whole new group of participants.

When you think about it, the rules are simple. Every culture in the world has their version of “tag”. Every culture also has their fair share of young boys playing with wooden or plastic rifles. The rules are universal, when you’re tagged, you’re out. When the ball breaks, you’re done. Paintball, like soccer and so many other sports, gives us all a fantastic chance to meet with people from all over the world, suspend our differences, and enjoy a common interest together. But how are we to conduct ourselves?

I want to go play one of the big games in Eastern Europe. They use old soviet military bases, factories, and jails for their settings. Real rockets and tanks zip across the battlefield, and smoke grenades, as well as explosive paint grenades, are still allowed. It just seems fantastic to me, a self-proclaimed speedball freak. I know I would do my best to carry along with the simple code of conduct that governs the most basic principals of the game. Don’t wipe, stay in bounds, chrono your marker, and play fair. Easy enough for me, but what of those who make cheating- or bending the rules- a regular part of their play? I’m sure I’m not the only one who will want to go outside of North America to play, so what happens when that little snot-nosed kid that you intentionally bunker the crap out of because he wipes every game goes to Europe and does the same stuff over there? The point is, as the travel aspect of this sport gets bigger and bigger, and international games become more and more of a reality, are people going to realize, especially us Americans, that we are no longer just representing ourselves, but our fellow countrymen as well? It worries me a bit, with the rampant wiping that is seen in tournament speedball and the less-than-honorable play we often see, and complain about, on our local rec field. I just wonder if others who wish to travel abroad will have the same concerns as I.

Your thoughts?

I've noticed: You're the only person who can bring up Paintball in this thread and not get flamed!