Vlad Marinescu joins IESF’s Board.

Vald Marinescu - a man of great talent.

International Esports Federation’s Board, desirous of actively pursuing its ambitions as the sole International Federation for esports has co-opted Vlad Marinescu.

Vlad Marinescu, currently President of United States eSports Federation, served as the former Director of International Judo Federation, and then made his mark in international sport as the Former Director General of SportAccord (GAISF). While holding such position in SportAccord, Vlad installed and monitored recognition application process for recognition of International Federations, creation and operation of various Multi- SportGames, managed the full-operations of organization, all programs and platforms, and organized multiple World Championships.

IESF believes that its true assets are its member federations and those dedicated individuals that serve them.

Vlad therefore brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the IESF’s Board. As such the Board is confident that IESF will meet the goals in being accredited by Global Association of International Sports Federations(GAISF).

Also read:

• Colin Webster Elected as New President of IESF

The eagle has landed.

Vlad Marinescu - Pesident of the United States of America eSports Federation (left) shakes hands with Colin Webster - President of the International Esports Federation (right).

It has long been held by a number of sporting codes that unless China, Russia, and the United States actively participates at World Championship level, then the sport, despite all its accreditation, is not a real sport.

Both Russia and China have been members of International Esports Federation (IESF) for a number of years, and ensured the upward improvement of standards from year-to-year.

However, at last, the USA has made an entry.

Without the bling and fanfare, for which the USA is famous, the United States of America eSports Federation was accepted into membership at IESF's Ordinary General Meeting (OGM) which was held on 10 November 2018 at Kaohsuing City.

The president of the United States of America eSports Federation is none other that Vlad Marinescu.

Vlad is a past Secretary General of GAISF and is absolutely committed to the growth of esports at every level, and has the belief that esports has  the ability to be a real game-changer in the years to come.

There is no doubt, that with the United States eSports Federation now a  member of IESF, the stakes have been raised.

World Draughts Federation announces its Calendar for 2018.

The Fédération Mondiale du Jeu de Dames (FMJD, World Draughts Federation) is the international body uniting national draughts federations. It was founded in 1947 by four Federations: France, the Netherlands, Belgium and Switzerland.

Currently, the FMJD has more than 50 national federation members. Recently the FMJD has become a member of the GAISF and strives for Olympic recognition. The FMJD memberships is part of a more general movement toward integration of Mind Sports in the regular sports arena, a development that, in the vision of the FMJD, is to be lauded.

The FMJD is member of the:

General Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF), and

International Mind Sports Association (IMSA)

The Calendar on the left only deals with the world championships for draughts, being the 10 x 10 variant.

Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA) offers draughts at all of its Provincial and National Championships.

THE MSSA’S VISION FOR eSPORTS:

Protea Colours badge

From the day that the MSSA was founded (1984), the MSSA has had to fight to have the games that the MSSA promotes to be recognised to be accredited as equals to any of the other sports that exist in South Africa.

The breakthrough happened in 1991 when the MSSA was allowed to award Protea Colours to its wargames team. In 1997, the MSSA awarded Protea Colours to its Morabaraba team, and in 2001 the MSSA was allowed to award Protea Colours to the players who represented South Africa for Checkers.

However, it was not until 2005 that the MSSA was granted permission by the Protea Colours Board for Computer Gaming.

It should be noted that the Protea Colours awarded are the same as awarded to cricket, rugby, swimming, etc.

Even though the mere act of awarding colours is laudable in itself, in that players who receive such colours are enable to apply for, and receive, bursaries at universities, the MSSA’s vision does not end there.

To ensure that eSports are regarded as a fully accredited sport, the MSSA runs inter-school leagues, school championships, regional championships, provincial championships and national championships.

The MSSA is a member of the International eSports Federation (IeSF). In 2010, the MSSA help found the IeDF (the international federation for gamers with disabilities) which is now  known as the IeSF. Through such affiliation the groundwork has been done to have eSports established and accredited as an international sport by the General Assembly of International Sport Federations (GAISF) which is now known as SportsAccord. When the GAISF accepts eSports as an international Sport, a whole new era will be ushered in as the games will be allowed to participate in the International Mind Sports Association’s Games, and be included in the All Africa Games, the Commonwealth Games, and possibly even in the Olympic Games.