UK Government-backed eSports competition to debut alongside Rio Olympics

The newly formed International eGames Committee has announced an eSports competition to run alongside the Olympics in Rio this year -- complete with national teams from the U.S., Canada, the UK and Brazil competing for medals. 

That's right; just like the Olympics competitions it will run alongside, the prize for victory will be medals -- not big crash prizes paid out by corporate sponsors. 

The new organization was unveiled today at the London Games Festival, and is backed by the UK government; UK Minister for Culture Ed Vaizey spoke at the event, saying, "The eGames promises to be an exciting venture that will give eSports competitors across the UK even more opportunities to showcase their talents on an international stage. I welcome the ambitions of the IEGC and their efforts to promote the UK as a leading nation in the eSports sector."

More details on the group and the eGames are forthcoming. 

The IEGC (official website here) operates from major film studio and production group Pinewood Studios, which has established a division to service the game industry. The company is also a sponsor of the London Games Festival.