LAUSANNE: The International Olympic Committee (IOC) upped its involvement in the growing industry of eSports, announcing the creation of a new platform called ‘Esports Liaison Group’ in partnership with Global Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF).
The platform’s aim is to encourage communication and engagement between the Olympic Movement and eSports and gaming stakeholders in order to identify areas of potential collaboration.
The decision was announced at the eSports Forum at the weekend in the city’s Olympic Museum. The forum featured 150 participants from across the eSports and gaming ecosystem: players, publishers, teams, media, sponsors and event organisers and from across the Olympic Movement: national Olympic committees, international sports federations, athletes, partners, broadcasters besides the IOC and the GAISF.
The event explored areas of commonality and potential collaboration, including the question of whether eSports could be recognised as a sport, and in which form they could be represented within the Olympic Movement, when an organisation does not currently exist that represents eSports globally and could align with the Olympic values, rules and regulations.
GAISF president and IOC member Patrick Baumann said: “One thing in particular was clear from these fascinating discussions – we are united by passion for our sports and a shared love of competition. That’s a positive starting point for further discussions about possible future cooperation between the Olympic and eSports communities.”’
Jacob “Jake” Lyon, a professional eSports player for the Houston Outlaws in the Overwatch League, said: “It was great to be able to participate in today’s Forum with the Olympic Movement. I think both communities were interested to learn from each other and I think it demonstrates the growing importance and following of esports around the world. There is much opportunity for each movement to learn and grow from the other’s experiences.”
IOC Sports director Kit McConnell said: “The eSports Forum was a unique opportunity to hear from a wide variety of stakeholders, including some of the top players themselves. There was a consensus that future collaboration will be based on ensuring that any activity supports and promotes the Olympic values; and while the goal was not to develop a pathway towards the inclusion of eSports on the Olympic programme, we have a strong plan for ongoing dialogue and engagement, and are in a strong position to coordinate and support the wider engagement of the Olympic Movement with eSports.”
IOC president Thomas Bach is reportedly planning to put eSports on the agenda of the Olympic Summit in December. Prior to that, members of the eSports Liaison Group will get an opportunity to present the case for digital gaming in forums for the Youth Olympics in Buenos Aires, international federations in Lausanne and all the 206 national Olympic committees in Tokyo this year.
