COULD there one day be Olympic gold medalists in "League of Legends"? The idea may seem absurd, but making gaming an Olympic sport is a subject that's come up time and again in recent years. Now, Riot Games, publisher of the "League of Legends" video game, is understood to be in talks with the International Olympic Committee about the possibility of bringing e-sport to the Olympic Games - a considerable opportunity for the sector, for which it would be a dream come true.
It's an idea that just won't go away. Bringing video games to the Olympics is a real hope for the gaming community, just as it makes some traditional athletes and sportspeople wince. Now, Riot Games - publisher of the "League of Legends" video game - has put the idea back on the agenda. The company is currently believed to be in talks with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to discuss the possibility of making "League of Legends" part of the Olympic Games.
While the idea of a video game in a sports competition may sound farfetched, it's actually something that's been discussed for a few years. "League of Legends" is one of the world's most popular video games, with over 180 million active players as of October. Plus, the presence of "League of Legends" in an event like the 2022 Asian Games is a first milestone on the road to seeing e-sports in the Olympics. The Asian Games will have seven other e-sport titles, each considered as sports in their own right and therefore as medals for the ranking. It's a major step for e-sport.