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Video Gamers

Cyber Athletes Gaining Legitimacy?

On January 25th, 2006, I posted on the potential for Sports Agents to become involved in representing “Video Gamers” in the future. If Video Gaming becomes an Olympic Sport, Sports Agents may be thrust upon the scene sooner than thought.These connect video gamers to the Olympics

Ted Owen, head of the Global Gaming League (GGL) is determined to introduce competitive video gaming to the 2008 Olympic Games. He is currently working with the Chinese government to influence the Olympic committee in designating competitive video gaming as a demonstration sport. The Olympics have not had a demonstration sport since 1992.

Competitive video gaming is not yet recognized as a sport by the Olympic committee, but if Tug of War was able to become recognized in 1960, then I would not rule out video gaming.

With many video gamers earning above $100,000 per year, endorsement deals growing at an increasing pace, and the possible introduction into the Olympic Games, cyber athletes may soon need true representation from agents so that they can focus on playing their games.

[tags]video games, cyber athletes, olympics, global gaming league, ggl[/tags]

By Darren Heitner

Darren Heitner created Sports Agent Blog as a New Year's Resolution on December 31, 2005. Originally titled, "I Want To Be A Sports Agent," the website was founded with the intention of causing Heitner to learn more about the profession that he wanted to join, meet reputable individuals in the space and force himself to stay on top of the latest news and trends.

Heitner now runs Heitner Legal, P.L.L.C., which is a law firm with many practice areas, including sports law and contract law. Heitner has represented numerous athletes and sports agents as legal counsel. He has also served as an Adjunct Professor at Indiana University Bloomington from 2011-2014, where he created and taught a course titled, Sport Agency Management, which included subjects ranging from NCAA regulations to athlete agent certification and the rules governing the profession. Heitner serves as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Florida Levin College of Law, where he teaches a Sports Law class that includes case law surrounding athlete agents and the NCAA rules.

One reply on “Cyber Athletes Gaining Legitimacy?”

Another ‘alternative ‘sport’ that could be catergorised similiar to video gaming is poker. Poker players have alot of sponsorship opportunites and are well recognised. The amount of money earnt is growing year by year as interest grows. Which begs the question, when will we see Poker in the Olympics?

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