Singapore (Commonwealth Union)_ The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has announced that the first-ever Olympic Esports Week will be held from 22 to 25 June 2023 in Singapore. This event is the next significant step in promoting the growth of virtual sports inside the Olympic Movement and expanding engagement with competitive gamers. In collaboration with the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth, Sport Singapore, and the Singapore National Olympic Committee (SNOC), the Olympic Esports Week will exhibit the best of virtual sports, including hybrid physical and simulated sports, in a four-day event featuring the latest advanced technologies, group discussions, education sessions, and show matches.
The centerpiece of the week will be the first physical live finals of the Olympic Esports Series, a worldwide virtual and simulated sports competition established in partnership with the International Federations (IFs) that adds to the triumphs of the 2021 Olympic Virtual Series. The 2021 game gathered over 250,000 competitors from 100 nations to compete in virtual and simulated sports like baseball, motorsport, cycling, rowing, and sailing, among others.
According to Thomas Bach, president of the International Olympic Committee, the inaugural Olympic Esports Week represents a significant milestone in the organization’s efforts to promote the growth of virtual sports within the Olympic Movement. Moreover, the exciting new structure of the virtual sports tournament, which will feature live finals for the first time, is a chance to expand collaboration with esports players and offer new opportunities for players and viewers. The president expressed delight over collaborating with Singapore, which has a record of promoting innovation within the Olympic Movement and has also hosted the inaugural Youth Olympic Games in 2010.
According to Ng Ser Miang, SNOC Board member and IOC Vice-President, “The Singapore NOC shares the Olympic Movement’s ambitions of exploring the development of virtual sports. Singapore has a track record of successfully hosting some of the biggest events in the virtual sports and esports calendar – we are honored to be collaborating with the IOC to bring this shared vision to life.” Early in 2023, specifics, including how to participate in the inaugural Olympic Esports Week and Olympic Esports Series, will be disclosed.
