User blog comment:The White Shadow 218/A Grimm Sport/@comment-30168060-20150324200232/@comment-24147026-20150324203002

Well, I myself can see where weapons and armor might come in handy; some of the competitors could be like the various thugs or people seen around in-series who don't have custom weapons and such from combat school or other such means.

Of course explaining why someone like that would actually be in this type of sport is another story altogether (one I would like to read at that).