This is the full text of Nike/LPL's February 28th, 2019 press release.

NIKE China (NIKE) and League of Legends Pro League (LPL) today announced a four-year partnership that will make NIKE the official and exclusive apparel and footwear partner of the LPL through 2022.

League of Legends (LOL) is one of the most popular multiplayer online games in the world. LPL, the professional league of mainland China, offers a variety of intensive competitions and unique competition experiences. The LPL is comprised of 16 teams who compete five versus five in a best-of-three series during league and group stage play and best-of-five series during playoffs with the ultimate goal of winning a spot at the League of Legends World Championships. Last year, the Invictus Gaming (IG) team of the LPL won the 2018 League of Legends World Championship, further fueling the passion for esports in China.

Since its founding, NIKE has stood by a universal value system of all physical activity: strength in body and mind makes athletes better. With China at the epicenter of new esports culture, Nike is excited about supporting the next generation of athletes and the future interconnected ecosystem of sport — progressing the longstanding complementary relationship the brand has had with gaming.

“Esports athletes share the same determination and competitive spirit as all athletes, they spend their lives preparing for intense competition, working relentlessly to improve their reflexes, coordination, vision, mentality and teamwork,” says Eric Wei, Vice President of Category Marketing at Nike in Greater China. “We are very excited to support LPL teams and players with ground-breaking esports game-day gear and training programs that will help unleash their full potential.”

“Our unprecedented partnership with Nike will enable LPL teams and players to continue to shine on the world stage,” says Leo Lin, Co-CEO of TJ Sports, a joint venture between Tencent and Riot Games that manages and operates the LPL. "Esports is a digital sport, and collaboration with Nike will push it to new heights." In the view of Bobby Jin, Co-CEO of TJ Sports, “the partnership with Nike can bring more professional and scientific services to esports athletes. It also lets esports, the digital sport, to be more integrated into public life in a dimensional and in-depth way.”

Starting in 2019, Nike will provide apparel and footwear for all 16 teams of the LPL. As part of the agreement, Nike will leverage its expertise in sports science research to explore new ways to serve esport athletes through customized physical training programs. LPL athletes will be equipped with an all-new team uniform ahead of the 2019 World Championships. LPL fans will also be able to get in on the action with a full range of lifestyle apparel and footwear.

For more information on Nike's partnership with the LPL, follow Nike's official Weibo and WeChat accounts, and LPL’s official website.