Pros vs. Amateurs – Gaming for Dummies

A panel discussion, entitled ‘Pros vs. Amateurs – Gaming for Dummies’, was held in SportAccord Convention, last week on April 21th, 2016.

David Eades, current BBC anchor, lead the panel discussion, as moderator. Alex Lim, Secretary General of International e-Sports Federation (IeSF), Patrick Nally, recognized as the founding father of modern sport marketing, Prof. Andy Miah, IOC Social Media Mentor and professor at Salford University, and Chris Osborne, BBC online journalist, joined the discussion in front of various international sports society members and media.

Among the various issues raised, the recognition of e-sport as a true sport was the hottest topic of the day.

“Sports needs to look at the real evidence of what is happening. It needs to embrace it and needs to participate with it. Otherwise, the sport we understand could get left behind,” said Patrick Nally, portraying the importance of the how e-sports should be perceived. Mr. Nally then went on to add, “Now it is the time to embrace it, not be fearful of it, not be frightened of it, and bring it to be part of your international federations,”

Alex Lim commented on the significance of e-sports and what it can bring to our next generation. Mr. Lim stated, “As being with sports society, IeSF want to give e-sports participants legacies and public structure developed from sports society where they can access to life skills, education, and careers as well. Although lots of young people are leaving from the sports scene right now, if sports society can use e-sports as a channel to bring young people back to the sports scene, I think that will be wiser,” and emphasized the social functions that e-sports offer.

Prof. Andy Miah mentioned that there has been countless number of sporting activities which have

aligned with the current digital innovation. Prof. Miah added, “Speaking to people working at the innovation side of it, I think there is the strong sense of people wanting get on board now to be part of e-sports movement”

Regarding the possibility e-sports as an official sporting event, Prof. Miah added, “The Olympic movement is about supporting and motivating and incentivising the youth of the world. There is a significant party of that community entering into e-sport. In order to fulfill that obligation towards that group, it has to be connected to sports,”

Mr. Byung Hun Jun, President of IeSF also stated, “By taking part in 2016 SportAccord Convention, IeSF has met various international sports society members and communicated in being a true sports. If the recognition of international sports authorities is in realization, more countries will be able to enjoy e-sports as true sports and expect to stand proudly in global sporting events. Through the introduction of the Global e-Sports Academy, IeSF is developing an on/offline education program for referees and broadcasters this year. The program will in the next coming years into marketers, coaches to support athletes career transition. Also, the 8th e-Sports World Championship will be held in Jakarta, Indonesia, in October to continue the sole international e-sports event. Hope Korea and global e-sports fans could give a lot of love and support,”

eSports at SportAccord

Mind Sports South Africa has been a member  of the International eSports Federation (IeSF) since 2009 and has continually worked towards fulfilling the goals of such august body.

The objectives  of the IeSF are simple. The objectives are  to simply to improve the governance of eSports  and to ensure that eSports  takes  its  place among  all the other sporting  codes on offer.

Thus Alex Lim (IeSF's Secretary  General) is at the SportAccord Meeting in which he is pleading the case for eSports to be  seen by SportAccord as a fully  accredited sport in front of the  'Who's Who' in international  sport.

While in Lausanne The Daily (official SportAccord convention news channel) interviewed Alex Lim, regarding the rise of eSports.  http://www.sportaccordconvention.com/sites/default/files/page/file/SAC2016THEDAILYMONDAY18APRIL_0.pdf (page 11).

In the article Alex Lim puts IeSF's case forward clearly and succinctly.

For anyone interested in the growth and development of eSports, it is certainly worth the read.

Tuks student smashes the glass ceiling at the IeSF's 7th World Championships

Maryke proved to be flexible enough to adapt to the changing circumstances and grabbed each and every opportunity as they presented themselves to her.

Maryke taking the oath

Before the championships even began, the Secretary general of the IeSF (Mr. Alex Lim), requested

At the opening ceremony, Maryke performed the oath with poise and dignity to become the first female to take the oath on behalf of all participants.

Although Maryke more than ably lead the South African League of Legends team to a stunning victory over Iran, it was, sadly, not enough to climb out of the group stage.

Maryke to take the Athlete's Oath. Maryke confided with the South African Manager (Mr. Ryan Boyes) about such and her fears about doing so, but the South African team rallied around her and encouraged Maryke to take the honour.

Reid 'RAPiD' Melton and Maryke 'Ykie' Kennard

It should too be noted that Maryke is the first female to captain a League of Legends team at such event.

However, with a shout-caster falling ill, Maryke was then drafted in to shout-cast as her own experience in this regard had not gone unnoticed by certain IeSF officials.

Thus Maryke was shoved into the forefront of a different aspect of eSports to become the first female to ever shout-cast at an IeSF World Championship.

Teamed up with Reid 'RAPiD' Melton, Maryke 'Ykie' Kennard took to shout-casting like a duck to water. Reid proved to be a great mentor and associate as he brought out the best in Maryke.

There is no doubt that Maryke has left an indelible impression on eSports which is likely to be remembered for many years to come.

The IeSF partners with the IAAF

The International e-Sports Federation (IeSF) has announced a partnership of cooperation exchange between e-Sports and athletics, as signing partnership MOU with the “Athletics for a Better World” powered by International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) at the Sochi EXPO Centre, the venue of the 2015 Sport Accord Convention in Sochi, Russia on April 21, 2015. IAAF is an international sports federation which retains 214 member nations with more than 100 years of history.

Athletics for a Better World has offered the partnership to IeSF on account of possibility and vision of e-Sports as official sports with high popularity among young generation and its rapid growth. IeSF Board has approved such partnership with a positive consideration on the proposal from them.

IeSF became an official signatory of WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency) in 2013, and recognized by TAFISA (The Association for International Sports for All) in 2014. And at this moment, partnership with IAAF will enhance IeSF’s status as official international sports federation. This is the first time for IeSF to have partnership with other sports discipline. As starting with Athletics which has the largest number of member nations and athletes, IeSF will continuously cooperate with many sports disciplines and international sports governing bodies. This effort will bridge the gap between traditional sports and e-Sports.

Through this partnership, IeSF will participate in “Athletics for Better World” program powered by IAAF which is to deliver a positive contribution in the areas of health, environment, social inclusion and peace through athletics. IeSF is planning to actively promote soundness of athletics, and promote health and e-Sports activities to all e-Sports member nations and e-Sports fans.

Moreover Athletics for a Better World, whose ambassadors include former Olympians Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Paula Radcliffe and Wilson Kipketer, will look to develop training plans and fitness programmes to help professional and recreational gamers alike perform at the highest levels. The IeSF will also benefit from the IAAF’s knowledge as a governing body with over a 100 years’ experience. There they will develop plans for the future of their partnership including live demonstration workshops with some of the world’s top professional gamers, as well as Olympic athletes who have all expressed a love of computer games, such as Aries Merritt (USA, Gold medal list in 2012 London Olympics men’s 100m hurdles), Warren Weir (Jamaica, Bronze medalist in 2012 London Olympics men’s 200m race) and Christian Taylor (USA, Gold medalist in 2012 London Olympics men’s triple jump).

Mr. Nick Davies, the Deputy General Secretary of IAAF addressed, “As the number one Olympic sport we

Nick Davies (IAAF) & Alex Lim (IeSF)

are always looking at new ways and new means of technology to help engage young people and encourage them to take up athletics. E-Sports is one of the fastest growing sports in the world and we’re delighted to become the first governing body to partner with the IeSF. We look forward to a prosperous relationship and can’t wait to start working on new and exciting opportunities together”

IeSF president, Mr. Byung Hun Jun said “This partnership will definitely enhance the status of IeSF within the international sports society, and it is a reflection that international sports society is continuously paying attention on e-Sports. By showing soundness of e-Sports and continuous exchange with international sports society, IeSF will keep endeavor to make the e-Sports to be recognized as official sports.

▶ About IeSF

The International e-Sports Federation (IeSF) is an International Governing Body for e-Sports, established in 2008. Currently IeSF consists of 43 National Federations, who are approved by governments in their countries. As e-Sports has been regarding as one of potential Sport disciplines, many of National Sport Authorities such as Ministry of Sport and National Olympic Committees have been recognise such National e-Sports Federations, as official Sport Governing Body.

Since 2009, IeSF has been hosting e-Sports World Championship every year. More than 400 people from all of IeSF National Federations and more countries participate in the event, as National Athletes approved by their government. All broadcasting contents are delivered to all around the world through online streaming platforms, with more than 2 million viewerships.

The IeSF also cooperates with various International Sport Bodies. IeSF manages and operates e-Sports event in Multi Sports Events in the world. Also IeSF has been approved as one of the official signatories of World Anti-Doping Agency in 2013. After approval, IeSF has been conducted doping test for every event, like other sports with IeSF’s own Anti-Doping code. In 2014, IeSF was approved as an International member of TAFISA (The association For International Sport for All), and will manage e-Sports program in 2016 TAFISA World Sport for All Games.

With rapid growth of e-Sports, IeSF is aiming for being affiliated in SportAccord. Regarding perceptions toward e-Sports from National Sport Authorities, it is expected that e-Sports can be admitted as one of official sport discipline in near future, with the recognition of IeSF by SportAccord.

▶ About the IAAF
The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) which was created in 1912 is the world governing and rule making body for Athletics, the Olympics’ number one sport. Today the IAAF encompasses track and field, race walking, road, cross country and mountain running. Boasting 214 national Member Federations, spread across 6 continental Areas, it has a global reach greater than that of the United Nations.

The IAAF World Athletics Series of events has as its pinnacle the biennial IAAF World Championships. The championships’ nine days of competition attract 2000 athletes from more than 200 countries and are broadcast to an accumulated 6 billion TV audience worldwide, making them the world’s third largest sporting event after the Olympic Games and football’s World Cup.

In 2015, there will be three IAAF World Athletics Series events plus the second edition of the innovative IAAF World Relays in The Bahamas. As a true reflection of the global nature of Athletics, these competitions will be held on three different continents.  The season will climax from 22 to 30 August at the IAAF World Championships, Beijing 2015, which take place in and around the ‘Bird’s Nest’, the Chinese capital’s Olympic stadium.

▶ About ABW
Athletics for a Better World (ABW) powered by IAAF is the global social responsibility programme of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF). Launched in April 2014, ABW brings together individuals, projects and organisations committed to using athletics as a tool for social and sustainable development. The ABW mark is available to all athletics-led initiatives that deliver a positive contribution in the areas of health, environment, social inclusion and peace.