THE DATE AND TIME FOR THE ELECTION OF IESF'S ATHLETES’ REPRESENTATIVE

Mind Sports South Africa's Jason Batzofin (foreground) is IESF’s retiring Players’ Commission Chairman

International Esports Federation (IESF) has set the date and time for the election of the Athletes’ Representative.

Details of the date and time of the election:

• Date: 13 December 2019
• Time: 8H30 
• Venue: VSG Arena

Those eligible to be elected are:

• Retiring Players’ Commission members who have made themselves available,
• Nominees as nominated by the various National Federation’s Players’ Representatives, and
• Any Player participating in the World Championships,willing to stand for election, should there not be sufficient nominations made by the National Federation’s Players’ Representatives.

National Federation’s Players’ Representatives have until the close of business (KST) on 11 December 2019 to submit their nominations to info@ie-sf.org.

All athletes’ are reminded that gender equity shall be enforced and that 50% of the six person

commission shall be female on this commission that does not allow more than one representative per

country.

Only National Federation’s Players’ Representatives, or his/her nominee, are allowed to vote.

This is a vital position that requires athletes who are dedicated and committed to ensuring a better

environment for all athletes.

IESF President, Colin Webster, stated, “IESF is proud of the contribution made by the members of the inaugural commission. All members worked well during their term of office and have created a

culture within the commission that will ensure that all esports athletes are protected.”

All athletes interested in participating in this exciting endeavour are urged to contact Jason Batzofin

on:

• Facebook Group Page - https://www.facebook.com/groups/331951380921285/.
• E-mail - jaybatzofin@ie-sf.org (CC Email to info@ie-sf.org)
• Discord Group- https://discord.gg/thHXAVm

IESF’S PLAYERS’ COMMISSION INVITES ALL PLAYERS TO PARTICIPATE

Athletes proudly bearing their national flags at IESF’s 10th World Championships – Kaosiung.

To create better communication between International Esports Federation (IESF) and all the esports athletes it serves, IESF’s Players’ Commission, hereby invites all athletes who have participated in member federation’s teams in IESF events to join IESF’s Players’ Commission discord and Facebook Group page.

All such athletes are encouraged to join both the Discord and Facebook Group page so that any and all concerns raised by athletes can be raised at Board level in order to help IESF improve the experience.

The Discord and Facebook Group page is reserved entirely for such athletes, and is a safe space for athletes to voice concerns or comment about anything. IESF’s Players’ Commission will do its very best to solve any issues any athlete may have.

Amanda Pakade, MSSA president, has also stressed the importance of all South African players who have attended IESF World Championships to join the various platforms.

"Ony by taking ann active role in directing the affairs of IESF, can athletes take true ownership of esports, said Ms. Amanda Pakade.

All questions or concerns must be directed to:

• Facebook Group Page - https://www.facebook.com/groups/331951380921285/.
• Discord Group- https://discord.gg/thHXAVm
• E-mail - jaybatzofin@ie-sf.org

ELECTIONS OF IESF’S PLAYERS’ COMMISSION SET FOR 2019

Jason Batzofin (of MSSA) is IESF’s current Players’ Commission Chairman

It is IESF's duty to protect all players who participate in IESF events. 

The IESF Player's Commission was created in 2016 for this very purpose. Each member on the Player's Commission serves a 3 year term. It is now coming up to the end of 2019 and thus, the end of the three year term for all who are currently serving in the Players' Commission. 

The Players' Commission has no role in any selection disputes, disciplinary hearings or anti-doping involving athletes. The Commission serves a far greater purpose and that is to represent the athletes' best interests to the IESF Board.

The founding and current Players' Commission consists of Jason Batzofin (Mind Sports South Africa), Koen Schobbers (Netherlands), and Madeleine Leander (Sweden). This will be the end of their full term and thus a new election will be held.     

Each National Federation’s Players Representative shall have one vote each and shall elect six members of which half shall be male and half shall be female.

The voting shall take place at IESF’s 2019 World championships, and IESF shall make a venue and time available for all the National Federation’s Players’ Representatives to meet.

It is at such meeting that the various National Federation’s Players’ Representatives shall state which of their number are making themselves available for election.

Only should there not be sufficient numbers for any one gender, then members of such gender may offer to stand for election even though they are not National Federation’s Players’ Representatives, but as long as they are team members at such World Championships.


To be a National Federation’s Players’ Representative, such athlete shall:

• Have a seat, as per the NF’s own Constitution/Statutes, on the Board of such member federation, and 
• Have reached the age of majority, and 
• Have represented such member federation in a national team at an IESF World championships, and 
• Not be older than 30 years of age. This is a vital position that requires athletes who are dedicated and committed to ensuring a better environment for all athletes.

IESF President, Coin Webster, stated, “IESF is proud of the contribution made by the members of the inaugural commission. All members worked well during their term of office and have created a culture within the commission that will ensure that all esports athletes are protected.”


“All that remains to be seen is, who shall be elected into office in 2019.”

New Athletes' Representative demonstrates great joie de vivre.

Amoné Bekker (Valhalla) is the Athletes' Representative for the period 2018 to 2021.

Not since Amanda (neé Kwaza) Pakade held the position of Athletes Representative (2006 to 2008) has a female held the position of Athetes' Representative.

At Mind Sports South Africa's 32nd South African National Championships, Amoné Bekker (Valhalla)  from Cape Town was elected in as MSSA's Athletes' Representative for the period 2018 to 2021.Amoné first earned her Protea Colours in 2017 when selected to represent South Africa in an online League of Legends test match against Tunisia. In 2018, Amoné was selected for the National Team Squad.

Amoné admits that taking over the position from Jason Batzofin (Old Edwardian Mind Sports Club) is a great honour as Jason Batzofin set a new bar. As most esports athletes will know, Jason is currently serving as the chairman of IESF's Athletes' Commission.

It is no secret that Amoné Bekker has aspirations to serving the interests of athletes on such IESF Athletes' Commission. having become MSSA's Athletes' Representative is the fiirst step in this long and arduous journey.

However, Amoné is convinced that service to South African athletes remains her first priority.

Athletes wishing to contact Amoné Bekker may do so via the Facebook group page set up for South Africa's athletes.

Jason Batzofin's 2016 term as IESF Athletes' Commission Chairperson ends in 2019.

Jason Batzofin of South Africa (foreground) IESF's current Athletes' Commission Chairman.

The relationship between Team members and IESF, Organising Committees, and National Federations is one founded on contract, being a combination of IESF’s Statutes and Regulations, entry form, National Federation Rules, and their Team Membership Agreements. Accordingly, IESF’s Athletes’ Commission has no role during the Games. It also has no role in any nomination and selection disputes or any anti-doping or other disciplinary hearings or tribunals involving athletes. The Commission, however, has a far more important purpose, and that is to represent the interests of athletes at IESF Board.

In 2019, the term of office of the inaugural Athlete’s Commission shall expire, and at IESF’s 2019 World Championships, all NF’s Athletes Representatives shall elect a new commission. Thus Jason Batzofin (South Africa), Koen Schobbers (Netherlands), and Madeleine Leander (Sweden), the first such committee shall have served their full term and have to stand down.

Each National Federation’s Athlete’s Representative shall have one vote each and shall elect six members of which half shall be male and half shall be female.

The voting shall take place at IESF's 2019 World championships, and IeSF shall make a venue and time available for all the National Federation’s Athlete’s Representatives to meet.

It is at such meeting that the various National Federation’s Athlete’s Representatives shall state which of their number are making themselves available for election.

Only should there not be sufficient numbers for any one gender, then members of such gender may offer to stand for election even though they are not National Federation’s Athlete’s Representatives, but as long as they are team members at such World Championships.

To be a National Federation’s Athlete’s Representative, such athlete shall:

1. Have a seat, as per the NF’s own Constitution/Statutes, on the Board of such member federation, and
2. Have reached the age of majority, and
3. Have represented such member federation in a national team at an IESF World championships, and
4. Not be older than 30 years of age.

This is a vital position that requires athletes who are dedicated and committed to ensuring a better environment for all athletes.

Certainly, Jason Batzofin (South Africa), Koen Schobbers (Netherlands), and Madeleine Leander (Sweden) all did their countries proud and have served with distinction.

All that remains to be seen is, who shall be elected into office in 2019.

South Africa's Jason Batzofin elected as IeSF's Athletes' Commission Chairperson.

Jason Batzofin (Old Edwardian Wargames Club) at IeSF's 8th World Championships - Jakarta.

Internationale-Sports Federation (IeSF) Athletes’ Commission announced that Jason Batzofin (South Africa) has been elected as the Chairperson of Athletes’ Commission in August 2017.

The Athletes’ Commission chair will now be sitting as a Board member of IeSF to deliver the voices of esports athletes to the Board of IeSF, and also to actively participate in decision making processes to be more focused on athlete driven initiatives. Jason's main focus will be on building a platform and communication channel for esports athletes to voice freely on national and international level, for athlete voices, interest, and welfare to be heard directly to esports national federations and IeSF.

Madeleine Leander (Sweden)

Jason Batzofin has been the Junior World Champion for Historical Wargames-Ancients Period, and has also been the CounterStrike: GO Player and athlete representative of South Africa (MSSA) in 2015. 

Madeleine Leander (Sweden), the gold medalist for StarCraft 2 in 2013 Esports World Championships, was elected as Vice Chairperson.

The Athletes’ Commission was inaugurated at the 1^stGlobal Esports Executive Summit 2016 in Shanghai, China. To take more active footsteps the Athletes’ Commission supported to attend the Esports World Championships in 2016 and also have been invited to the General Meeting to “look and feel” the current structures in place. The nomination of the first chair and vice-chair this august is the step to systemize the Athletes’ Commission and to take further steps to develop the foundation in the future.

For more information please read through the card news uploaded at IeSF official Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/IeSFederation/photos/pcb.1340274472695369/1340274262695390/?type=3&theater

Protecting the player.

Alex Lim, of IeSF, hammering home the message.

With more and more money being poured into eSports in terms of money for winners of competitions and salaries for professional gamers, there is a growing need to protect the player more than ever.

While it is also true that much of the prize-money offered at tournaments is paid directly to the clubs, and their owners, little -if any - ever reaches the hands of the players who actually won such monies.

I have stated in a previous article that gamers who play for clubs as professionals and earn prize-money for clubs must be treated as employees and are entitled to be treated as such under the Basic Conditions of Employment Act.

Treating gamers as a commodity by which clubs can earn income will become more-and-more of an issue.

Thus IeSF (International e-Sports Federation) thus, bearing in mind the issues surrounding gamers, thus brought an Athletes' Commission into being.

Five players were head-hunted to be part of this auspicious start, and in Shanghai, China, the five players accepted their positions.

The famous five are:

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

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

However, IeSF has moved forward on this issue.

IeSF's Board has produced a set of Regulations that determine the long-term sustainability of the Commission.

The current members of the commission shall hold office  until 2019, at which time they shall retire and a new commission shall be elected - not by the National Federations, but by the players attending the World Championships.

Thus gamers have control of a body that will deliver a person to sit on the Board itself to ensure that the concerns of  gamers are brought directly to the attention of IeSF's Board. It is through such open chain of command that gamers may be fully represented.

The Commission is to represent the gamers and to help protect all gamers. IeSF believes that it is the first step in ensuring that nobody takes advantage of a gamer.

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.

Charmaine Crooks, 5 times Olympian and the former member of IOC Athlete Commission

Charmain Crooks emphasized the importance of continuous conversation with athletes, and commented “To protect players, understandings on athletes current standing and situation is very important. The continuous interest of National Federations, International Federation, IOC and society is very crucial. Most important of all is the willingess of these governing bodies to listen to the voices of athletes”

Establishment of IeSF's Athletes Commission and South African representative thereof

The International e-Sports Federation (IeSF) is taking steps to establish an Athletes Commission to protect the right and interest of e-Sports athletes, while continuing its journey to be recognized by International Olympic Committee (IOC).

The establishment of an Athletes Commission is one of the core criteria in the IOC recognition process, as it ensures the voice of athletes is heard.

In order to establish such a structure, IeSF will work together with e-Sports athletes and implement necessary procedures one-by-one for the Athletes Commission to function in the proper manner. The commission shall voice the e-sports athlete's rights, interests, and welfare.

Jason Batzofin

The process to establish the Athletes Commission will start with the 45 member nations of IeSF, encouraging athletes to register for all game titles. As an initial stage of commission development, athletes with international competition experience shall be recommended by each National federation. To support the formation and taking into account that majority of e-Sports athletes are in their youth, IeSF plans to organize an advisory group of experienced members in the sports field to give insight and knowledge to the athletes representatives.

It should be noted that MSSA, has had such an Athlete's Representative on its committee since 2005. As such, South Africa is ahead of the curve, and already ready to serve the interests of its athletes at the highest possible level. Such representative is elected by athletes who have earned senior Provincial  or National colours every third year at MSSA's AGM. The current representative is Jason Batzofin. Jason first earned his Protea Colours in 2014 for wargames, and then in 2015 earned such colours  for both  wargames and eSports.

The Goal of IeSF is to give support and offer conceptual aid for the Athletes Commission to become an organization which can grow into an independent structure for athletes in which they can voice their opinions freely. The Commission shall also participate in the decisions of IeSF key agendas to reflect its opinion and contribute to the e-sports momentum.

IeSF will work together with the Athletes Commission to work on touch points which has been an issue for e-Sports athletes. Crucial issues such as the VISA process have always been a problem for e-Sports athletes since many countries do not recognize it as an official sport. However IeSF wishes to solve this by making e-Sports recognized as a true sport, working together with the Athletes Commission.

IeSF has supported e-Sports athletes in VISA issues for the past 8 years during its annual World championships, working closely with each host country governments. IeSF has resolved cases during Asian Indoor Martial Arts Games (AIMAG), indorsed by OCA (Olympic Council of Asia).

Moreover IeSF supported PESO(Philippine e-Sports Organization) DOTA 2 athletes with residential Visa and Sports Visa, in cooperation with the Korean government and KeSPA (Korean e-Sports Association). Working together with various international sports organizations and various government officials, IeSF is now extending the support to all athletes of the e-Sports industry, and would like to achieve this together with the Athletes Commission

Opening ceremony at 6th IeSF World Championships - Bucharest

The Athletes Commission shall begin its first activities during the 8^th e-Sports World Championships which is jointly hosted by TAFISA at its World Sport for All Games in October this year. At such event, the opinions of the national athletes shall be recorded, while also discussing Anti-Doping and other ethical topics during the session. With the information and interest gathered during the World Championship, it will act as a valuable source to constitute the Commission which shall officially begin to function in 2017.

“The Athletes commission is not only where the voices of the athletes heard, but it is an important sector which can advise IeSF in taking its steps for the future e-Sports development. IeSF will be in full support to establish of the Athletes Commission and will make sure to be in constant communication with one another. We would like to encourage athletes and ask for continuous support for the commission to be formed in the proper manner and direction” said Alex Lim, Secretary General of IeSF, “The current global e-Sports Academy, underdevelopment of IeSF, will be focusing on welfare and second life career developments of the athletes. For it to function as a realistic and practical education program, IeSF will work closely with the Athletes Commission to integrate its opinion and needs”