U.S. Gov recognizes LoL Players as Athletes - Page 5

On July 13 2013 06:24 Plansix wrote:

Because the US government granted them the status. Riot doesn't have special powers or the ability to control the US government. It would be like the NFL trying to get that title of athlete taken away from golfers, which sounds fucking stupid.

On July 13 2013 06:23 HolydaKing wrote:

Where did i write something bad about LoL? ^^

Or wait wrong response i guess. I never said only though.

On July 13 2013 06:31 KwarK wrote:
The visa basically wants to know what you're coming into the country to do and when you'll leave. For that purpose esports tournament entrants have always been effectively athletes. They are professionals coming to compete in an event and mean to leave following the end of the event. What has happened here is Riot have explained to the US gov that of the many visas available the P1 (athlete) best matches the situation of LoL players. It doesn't mean that LoL is a sport or anything silly like that. It means that people wishing to enter the country with their team to compete in a tournament are, for the purpose of getting a visa, treated like people wishing to enter the country with their team to compete in a tournament.

On July 13 2013 06:33 [Agony]x90 wrote:


Fine, then I'll set up a hypothetical situation since I don't possess the proper vocabulary or have been misusing the incorrect vocabulary to express my thoughts.

Its possible that Riot just went in and asked to be declared as a sport, that the electronic aspect of the sport doesn't affect the fact that it is a sport.

Or they could have submitted very specific wording that would make it more difficult for other electronic gaming to be considered a sport.

For example, they could try to define e-sports as multiple teams cooperating simultaneously to achieve an end goal. This would disqualify SC2 or fighting games, as they are individualistic sports.

A similar sport case would be that between sports and athletics. Some would consider triathlons a "sport", but others would define it as "athletics".

If riot demanded a very specific requirement for the definition for e-sports, one which the US Gov may have allowed, this could negatively affect other gaming companies.

It's highly unlikely to ever pass, but I wouldn't put it past a corporation to at least try. And if they did try, then I would consider that malicious behavior.

On July 13 2013 06:33 [Agony]x90 wrote:


Fine, then I'll set up a hypothetical situation since I don't possess the proper vocabulary or have been misusing the incorrect vocabulary to express my thoughts.

Its possible that Riot just went in and asked to be declared as a sport, that the electronic aspect of the sport doesn't affect the fact that it is a sport.

Or they could have submitted very specific wording that would make it more difficult for other electronic gaming to be considered a sport.

For example, they could try to define e-sports as multiple teams cooperating simultaneously to achieve an end goal. This would disqualify SC2 or fighting games, as they are individualistic sports.

A similar sport case would be that between sports and athletics. Some would consider triathlons a "sport", but others would define it as "athletics".

If riot demanded a very specific requirement for the definition for e-sports, one which the US Gov may have allowed, this could negatively affect other gaming companies.

It's highly unlikely to ever pass, but I wouldn't put it past a corporation to at least try. And if they did try, then I would consider that malicious behavior.

On July 13 2013 06:42 KingAce wrote:
Riot has out done Blizzard with a game that is technically theirs. Should have taken dota seriously.

On July 13 2013 06:44 Pr0wler wrote:
Lol, money win every battle I guess Now Riot can call their game "REAL SPORT !1!" I don't mind, good for them.
I just wonder, how the hell LoL is a real sport , but CS, Halo and CoD are not. Well... Money.

On July 13 2013 06:36 jinorazi wrote:


though i know nothing of what happened, i dont think it has anything to do with defining esports or progamers or games. it has to do with competitors having to jump through hoops to compete, and getting rid of these hoops. perhaps they showed how big the competition is, say in comparison to table tennis, and say this is no different so we'd like to have these visa available for our competitors.

On July 13 2013 06:09 Plansix wrote:

Stay classy TL member. Seriously, all my friends play LoL and we are all grown adults. The whole "My game is much deeper than yours, you have no idea" is total non-sense.

What happened to the good old days when we just judged peoples taste in music?

On July 13 2013 07:00 [Agony]x90 wrote:


And I agree with you.

The only reason I even said what I said is to basically make the statement "SC2 players shouldn't be disappointed and should instead applaud this."

I gave a theoretical (albeit infinitesimal) condition in which SC2 should and would oppose this ruling.

Of course, since StarStruck insisted on being insulting, I explained what I was referring to.

For example, they could try to define e-sports as multiple teams cooperating simultaneously to achieve an end goal. This would disqualify SC2 or fighting games, as they are individualistic sports.