The need for Esports in the Olympics

SANTA MONICA, CA - MAY 28: Tony Chau (Sasiko) of Maryville University is seen in the League of Legends College Championship Game between University of Toronto and Maryville University at the NA LCS Studio at Riot Games Arena on May 28, 2017 in Santa Monica, California. (Photo by Josh Lefkowitz/Getty Images)
SANTA MONICA, CA - MAY 28: Tony Chau (Sasiko) of Maryville University is seen in the League of Legends College Championship Game between University of Toronto and Maryville University at the NA LCS Studio at Riot Games Arena on May 28, 2017 in Santa Monica, California. (Photo by Josh Lefkowitz/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

When it comes to the Olympics, Esports should also be a viable sport to compete in. League of Legends would be the perfect franchise to involve such competition.

The Olympics are a global event due to all the incredible athletes competing in various competitions to be deemed the best of the best. It’s not easy to compete in the Olympics but in the grand scheme of things, Esports should be just as viable as all the rest.

The beauty of Esports and especially League of Legends comes down to the intricate yet competitive gameplay of the franchise. Besides League of Legends, most Esports involve teams that work closely together to either complete objectives or earn kills. At the end of the day, it requires a ton of practice, teamwork, and the ability to multitask in order to be victorious.

When it comes to the Olympics, it would be incredible to incorporate Esports since the gaming industry is already embracing it. Popular television shows like ELeague and streaming platforms such as Twitch continue to get millions in viewership for live tournaments. If that kind of viewership is coming from those platforms, imagine what the response would be at the Olympics?

More from Editorials

It wouldn’t just have to be League of Legends but other popular gaming titles like Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, Injustice 2, NBA 2K, and even Rocket League could set the standard for the Olympics and even be rotated every four years.

Perhaps they could do an MOBA title one time, then a fighting game the following event.

Either way, Esports are only getting bigger, better, and increased exposure. The misconception of people assuming these are just kids playing video games is slowly dying since competitors come from all walks of life as respect is earned for overachieving Esports players.

Overall, the time is now for Esports to be featured in such a competition as big as the Olympics. Not only would it prove to the world that it is a viable sport, but also allow so many different competitors an opportunity of a lifetime to be among the first to compete if such a category is added.

Follow Blog of Legends on Twitter and on Facebook. We have open Contributor positions available for those interested in writing about League of Legends and/or the Esports scene. Fill out a Writer’s Application for our site to join the team!