The group managing the US' bid for the 2024 Olympic Games, LA 2024, have promised to make use of the popularity of esports in the US, should they win the bid. This is in response to the recent League of Legends Worlds final, which was hosted in LA's own Staples Center and was sold out.
The stadium was packed with over 20,000 people, and millions more watched the event online via Twitch, YouTube, and more. These viewers were mostly made up of 18-49 year olds, a demographic which has been dropping in views for the Olympics.
California has always been one of the biggest embracers of esports in America, and many of the venues for different games take place there. Last week was the League of Legends Worlds final, and this weekend BlizzCon is taking place in Anaheim, CA, which will host tournaments for Overwatch, Hearthstone and more. Surely, then, the state would surely be the perfect place to host an Olympic level esports tournament.
LA 2024 Chairman Casey Wasserman said: "we view esports' immense global popularity and continued advances in digital technologies as tremendous tools for reconnecting millennials with the Olympic movement [...] Harnessing the power of new technologies like virtual and augmented reality to promote healthy lifestyles will be a key objective as we seek to create a new Games for a new era in 2024."
Which game would you like to see taken to an Olympic level and why?