Hahahahaha- NO...

Very interesting. This brings up a huge debate what it means to be an 'Athlete.' I don't swing either way at the moment, but it is a pretty big deal for these LOL players to be able to travel under those guidelines.

Cool beans.

I am not entirely sure how to feel about this.

Part of me says, "Alright, I guess this is cool, it gives games more exposure as a medium". The other part, which I agree with slightly more, says, "Really? People make money just playing video games AND they're legally athletes?" Granted this is mainly just to make things easier for international players, but I don't think "athlete" is the right word here.

Athlete: a person who is trained or skilled in exercises, sports, or games requiring physical strength, agility, or stamina The government isn't recognizing them as athletes they are recognizing them as legitimate competitors in a sport (definition: to amuse oneself). Lots of things can be considered a sport but only athletic events can have athletes. The government is just lumping them together because it is easier than creating a whole new designation. It is ridiculous to think that this changes the definition of athlete or sport.

This might be stretching the term "athlete", but it's good news for pro players in other regions

Welcome to to the world of crippling regulations and exorbitant entertainment taxes at each of your lan parties now.

Now lets move LOL to the Olimpics !!!!!

As someone who actually played real sports this kinda makes me want to vomit. But it's not really a big deal and will help a competition so I'll keep my guts on the inside. Just stay off of my ESPN. Bad enough we get the hot dog eaters on there

As much as I don't have a problem with competitive gaming becoming more recognized it's a bit far to call that sport. Just because it's comptetetive and called e-sports doesn't make it a sport. Example, if I play football in my backyard it's a sport. If I play football professionally it's a sport. If I play LoL in my house it's sitting in my chair playing a video game. A sport is not a sport depending on its setting.

sounds good...

ROFL.. what a joke!! I bet chess players are also considered athletes too hahahahha. Professional gaming is just for lazy people who cant find jobs

I'm all for the rise of e-sports and all that good stuff, but to call pro gamers "athletes" just doesn't feel right to me, unless the individual really is one...

If it didn't require effort, as some people say, then it would be really common to be a professional player.

They have my blessing. I'd rather watch a pro Street Fighter match than a pro NFL/curling/baseball/horse-riding thing/Formula 1 competition.

I think they are just lumping them together to save time of defining what exactly these professional players are going to be called/classified.

I don't think our Professional Gamers will ever be seen the same as our sports athletes. Sure, its a fierce competition of skill, but those athletes push the limits of human physiology and their own health and well being to pursue perfection.

Professional gamers, though having more skill than I'll ever have, don't really *do* much that pushes the limits of anything.

Still, they are far more skilled than a lot of people and its a well earning profession if you are good enough, and if they can make a living off of that, then they have my envy. But I don't think, at least anything soon, we'll have a poster of a professional gamer on my wall.

I think this is dumb. As sometimes... sorta... kinda(?) entertaining as "eSports" can be (what a dumb oxymoron. If you're playing an electronic game, it's not a sport) when you have good competitors and good commentary, it's still pretty stupid. Doesn't matter if we're talking about watching fighting games, Quake competitions, Starcraft II, or MOBAs , it's just guys sitting at a PC. Playing games with your buddies can at least be a raucous good time, but these super serious "athletes" are joyless - kind of missing the point of what a video game is supposed to be; entertaining. And it's not a sport. Not by a long shot. Chutes & Ladders is a competition as well... there are winners & losers in Candyland too. I don't see anyone starting up the NCLA (National Candy Land Association, of course)

I don't get it. I think it's dumb. And while it's nice for foreigners to be able to easily obtain Visa's and come to the US for whatever reason... I dunno, it's dumb that the act of "playing a video game" counts as something worthy of earning a Visa. Do you really want THAT to be your reason? There's gotta be more dignity in marrying someone just for your Green Card. It's also ridiculous that they're renting out the Staples Center for their LoL World Championships or whatever. 11k people (I don't think they're gonna fill it up, as the Arena seats 20k) watching a handful of nerds sit quietly around a bunch of computers while giant screens show off a game you've seen a thousand times before on your own PC? *sigh*

I don't agree with the athlete thing, but having that kind of privilege I can agree with though. No doubt pro gamers will travel all around to compete.

AHAHAHAHA Maybe when a LoL player can run 100 yards across a field or play any active sport for hours on end we will consider them athletes.