CBDEL - at Casa Brazil in the Olympic village

CBDEL's stand next to the Brazilian department of sport in Casa Brazil in the Olympic village

The Confederação Brasileira do Desporto Eletrônico (CBDEL) fully understands the importance  off working with all stakeholders.

CBDEL continually interacts with government, the Brazilian Olympic Committee, its membership  and the public.

Thus CBDEL,  through the  kind offices of the Brazilian department of sport, were allowed to man a stand within Casa Brazil in the Olympic village.

During the Olympic Games, interest in eSports was outstanding, and the CBDEL officials were swamped with interest.

Young Leonardo Ribas, who was recently selected to represent Brazil on IeSF's Athlete's Commission) and Kathleen Rossi Cossi (who, in May 2016 earned IeSf's International Referee accreditation) were both there helping the other committed athletes  explain, encourage and demonstrate esports to fascinated crowds of other athletes and members of the public.

Wherever you looked in the stand IeSF's logo and branding is clearly visible.

The pride that CBDEL has of its affiliation to IeSF is palpable.

The long-term benefits of the stand in Casa Brazil are hard to predict, but one thing is certain, eSports is in very good hands in Brazil.

Jason Batzofin is on IeSF's Athlete's Commission

Koen Hubert, Young Ho Lee, Mr Jun (President of IeSF), Jason Batzofin, and Leonardo Ribas

At the prestigious Global eSports Summit hosted by both WCA and IeSF, IeSF announced the formation of its Athlete’s Commission.

The Commission mirrors the best practices of all sporting codes that are already members of the IOC, and is designed to help protect and care for all athletes within eSports by giving them a voice as previously undreamed of.

To ‘get the ball rolling’, IeSF has hand-picked the founders of such commission, while in future, the candidates shall be elected at IeSF World Championships.

The Athlete’s Commission shall too be represented on IeSF’s Management Board which will allow the eSports athletes a direct say inn how eSports is governed.

South Africa should thus be extremely proud that there is a South African who is one of the founder members of the Commission.

Such South African is none other than Jason Batzofin, who is also MSSA’s Player Representative.

Jason Batzofin has earned his Protea Colours in both 20!5 and 20!6 and has performed with distinction on MSSA’s Management Board.

The Athletes that serve alongside Jason on the Commission are also giants in the field of eSports, being:

• Young Ho Lee (South Korea)
• Leonardo Ribas (Brazil)
• Koen Hubert (Netherlands)
• Madelaine Leander (Sweden)

To assist the fledgling committee, IeSF has retained the services of five time Olympian, Charmaine Crooks.

There is no doubt that the commission shall meet its objectives and delver a safer environment to all eSport athletes.