With the popularity of eSports rising as people begin to recognize it within the same parameters as traditional sports, talent management company IMG is opening their training academy to eSports players for the first time.
Based in Bradenton, Florida, IMG Academy, a training camp and boarding school for athletes, focuses on training and education related to sports, boasts alumni superstars and trainees such as Carolina Panthers QB Cam Newton, tennis superstars Andre Agassi and Serena Williams, and former Phoenix Suns and New York Knicks power forward Amar’e Stoudamire, among others. However, one eSports teams looks to join the ranks of these sports superstars.
Three members of compLexity gaming’s Call of Duty team will be the first eSports participants to participate in the boot camp hosted by IMG, having flown out Wednesday.
Tobias Sherman, head of esports at WME|IMG had the following to say:
We are excited to welcome compLexity to IMG Academy to train both mentally and physically…As the sports industry continues to recognize the parallels between esports and mainstream athletes, IMG Academy was a natural fit to provide facilities and coaching that will enhance the training of esports franchises moving forward.
The program, which is a part of the Academy’s Athletic and Personal Development program, combines physical and mental conditioning, brain training, nutrition and lifestyle education, and leadership development, with experts overseeing every step of the process.
Editor’s Note: The future of eSports isn’t necessarily tied to the success of this trial, however, it can change the course of its history. With a seasoned team of veterans giving time-tested training to eSports competitors, I can definitely see more and more teams taking the option to train with IMG if the boys from compLexity show some significant results.
Source: The Daily Dot
