The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has announced its first-ever inaugural Olympic Esports Week. Indeed this is the best news ever in the history of esports.
The announcement was made just a day after the Global Esports Federation partnered with the European Olympic Committees to expand the development of esports on the continent, and less than a week after the European Union voted to recognize and devise a long-term strategy for esports in Europe.
The opportunity is limitless and this decision to have esports and virtual gaming under the prestigious Olympic brand is a dream come true for esports brands, athletes, and enthusiasts everywhere, and we are overjoyed to be a part of this new chapter of the journey.
The Olympic Movement will take the next significant step toward fostering the expansion of virtual sports, as well as further connecting with competitive gamers. The Olympic Esports Week will be held in partnership with the Ministry of Culture, Community, and Youth, the Singapore National Olympic Committee, and Sport Singapore. The four-day festival, set to take place between June 22 – 25, 2023 in Singapore, will see showcases of hybrid physical and simulated sports, exhibitions of new technologies, panel discussions, show matches, and education sessions.
The event will feature the live in-person finals of the Olympic Esports Series, a continuation of the Olympic Virtual Series, which featured competitions in virtual cycling, motorsport, rowing, sailing, and other virtual sports.
“Further details about the Olympic Esports Week, including how players can participate, will be revealed in early 2023,” the IOC announced.
The IOC has made moves towards exploring esports in the past, for example, it held an Esports Summit in 2018. Esports has also appeared as a pilot event at the Commonwealth Games and a medal event at the Asian Games in the past.
This is great and timely news for esports across the globe and especially for the teeming esports community in Africa. Gamr’s message of “Play, Connect and Earn” now means so much more as esports players now have a chance to play, connect and earn money and become Olympic medalists; arguably the most prestigious awards for athletes.
IOC President Thomas Bach commented in a release: “The first Olympic Esports Week marks an important milestone in our ambition to support the growth of virtual sports within the Olympic Movement.
“We believe the exciting new format of our virtual sports competition, with live finals to be staged for the first time, is an opportunity to collaborate further with esports players and to create new opportunities for players and fans alike.”
The fact the Committee is exploring ways to connect with gamers and esports fans is truly encouraging. We are excited to see where it all leads.