Major Esports federations collaborate and establish Leadership Group as Olympic Esports Games emerges

[GBModerator]

The International Esports Federation (IESF) and Global Esports Federation (GEF) this week followed up last month's collaboration announcement with the formation of the Esports Leadership Group (ELG)

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[krow]

baffling series of decisions happening here. 

[Guilga]

Interesting, but two little things:

• Will these two federations be at odds at each other in pratice or actually do the sensible thing and merge already?
• Will the IOC care about their existence?

And with that, more two questions, the two elephants in the room: Will the IOC relent on the violent stuff, thinking the kids will care more about a mostly unknown mobile archery game than Counter Strike and Battle Royale Fortnite, with a vain hope that will make them go outside and do the traditional sport thing? (Like, promoting these is easier done bringing the best of the best to compete in the actual thing, which is the one thing they already have...)

And, actually more importantly: Will the publishers of the big games that that they actually has to get actually care? For some, esports is advertising, a way to make people stay with the game, in particular the competitive niche, with global events being more broad in audience. They care that much about the sport part? Not as much as to devise means to fool the dumbest people on earth (gamers) into giving them all their money, but still. That will depend on each publisher, the ones with the real ball to make this work.

Organizing yourself is important, but you have to convince the old man to know what the target audience for a Virtual Olympics really want, and this might include some stuff that techinically could break the Olympic Charter for them...

[AustralianFan]

6 minutes ago, Guilga said:

Interesting, but two little things:

• Will these two federations be at odds at each other in pratice or actually do the sensible thing and merge already?
• Will the IOC care about their existence?

And with that, more two questions, the two elephants in the room: Will the IOC relent on the violent stuff, thinking the kids will care more about a mostly unknown mobile archery game than Counter Strike and Battle Royale Fortnite, with a vain hope that will make them go outside and do the traditional sport thing? (Like, promoting these is easier done bringing the best of the best to compete in the actual thing, which is the one thing they already have...)

And, actually more importantly: Will the publishers of the big games that that they actually has to get actually care? For some, esports is advertising, a way to make people stay with the game, in particular the competitive niche, with global events being more broad in audience. They care that much about the sport part? Not as much as to devise means to fool the dumbest people on earth (gamers) into giving them all their money, but still. That will depend on each publisher, the ones with the real ball to make this work.

Organizing yourself is important, but you have to convince the old man to know what the target audience for a Virtual Olympics really want, and this might include some stuff that techinically could break the Olympic Charter for them...

The IOC has signalled already the Esports it likes as seen in the Olympic Esports series in Singapore last year.

Below is a complete list of the Olympic Esports 2023:

 

On 1/1/2024 at 1:53 PM, AustralianFan said:

The IOC has signalled already the Esports it likes as seen in the Olympic Esports series in Singapore last year.

Below is a complete list of the Olympic Esports 2023:

Tic Tac Bow (Archery)

• Tic Tac Bow is a blend of the classic game of tic-tac-toe and archery into one game. This mobile game pits two players against each other, where the goal is simple. You need to shoot arrows at a 3 x 3 archery board, scoring points. The first player to complete a whole row (much like in Tic Tac Toe) successfully wins the game.

 

WBSC eBASEBALL

• WBSC eBaseball sees players pretty much play a whole game of baseball in a virtual setting. This game is currently available on Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4. WBSC eBaseball boasts adorable player models, various game modes, and easy pick-up-and-play mechanics for everyone to enjoy. Moreover, the game lets you create your own team, get a chance to bat, pitch, and field, and compete against friends offline or against global players online.

 

Chess.com (Chess)

• Chess has always been one of the popular sports titles in the world, and it is not a surprise that the game of wit will feature in the esports lineup of the Olympics in 2023. Chess.Com is a web-based platform that pits players against each other in a match of Chess.
• It has leaderboards, tutorials, a ranking system, and an overwhelming community of passionate chess players. Over the years, this platform has gained popularity thanks to popular chess streamers. The International Chess Federation, the governing body for the game, will curate the esports matches.

 

Zwift (Cycling)

• Zwift is a mix of digital and physical setups. The digital app features popular cycling tracks from around the world that you can cycle through with other people. Along with that, you also need physical cycling kits, that simulate the cycling experience at home.

• Zwift cycling is already a popular game that’s competitively played in numerous parts of the world, and it will now be part of the Olympic Esports Series 2023. Union Cycliste Internationale, the governing body for cycling events around the world will oversee the event.

 

Fortnite (Shooting)

• Fortnite was also in the mix of games played at the Olympic Esports Series 2023. But there’s a catch. You didn’t see the chaotic and fun battle royale mode played at this event. Instead, 12 players from the 2023 Fortnite Champion Series (FNCS) duked it out in a shooting competition in a specially designed Fortnite Creative Island.

 

Just Dance (Dance)

• JustDance is well known for its yearly reveals during the E3 video game event at Ubisoft’s showcases. The dance game sees players mimic various dance moves using motion controls through an app on their phones or consoles, and it scores them. The game puts players in choreographies based on popular songs around the world.

• The game’s esports rounds were curated by the World DanceSport Federation, a governing body responsible for the DanceSport and Para DanceSport.

 

Gran Turismo (Motor Sport)

• Another well-established title that had a very concise esports presence over the year, Gran Turismo is a simulation racing game made by Japanese developer Polyphony Digital for PlayStation. Gran Turismo features simulation features, realistic gameplay, and offering of an assortment of cars.

• Now, the International Olympic Committee has not mentioned which edition of Gran Turismo is being considered for the esports games. We guess they will be picking the latest Gran Turismo 7 as the title for the event. Nevertheless, the games will be curated by the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile, the organization responsible for motor car usage around the world. Also known as FIA, they oversee sports such as F1 and more.

 

Virtual Regatta (Sailing)

• This game is an online sailing race simulator, which originally started as a browser-based title, but quickly turned into a mobile-app game over the years. Virtual Regatta boasts real-time weather conditions, near-realistic control, and a passionate community of players. The goal is to sail from point A to point B using real-world sailing tools.

• The esports aspects of the game are overseen by the World Sailing, a body for the sport of sailing, officially recognized by the Olympics.

 

Virtual Taekwondo (Taekwondo)

• Virtual Taekwondo sees players fitting sensors on their legs and duking it against digital taekwondo players. The sensors pick up each movement and attack, scoring them accordingly. Refract Technologies, a company consisting of ex-Ubisoft and EA developers, is the brain behind this game.
• Virtual Taekwondo turns a contact-heavy combat sport into a safer, contactless affair. World Taekwondo, the governing body for the combat sport, will curate and oversee the matches for this virtual game at Olympic Esports Series 2023.

 

Tennis Clash (Tennis)

• The final title in the lineup is a popular mobile game called Tennis Clash. In the game, players lock horns against each other in matches of Tennis. To play the title, you need to swipe your finger toward the point where you want to hit the ball. It follows the ruleset of tennis and features a cartoon aesthetic. Of course, given it is a free game, in-game monetization is something players should expect from it.
• International Tennis Federation, the governing body for tennis matches worldwide, will oversee the esports matches for the game during the Olympics Esports Series 2023.

 

Correction to my earlier post:  

It seems that governance of most of the Esports Olympic Competitions is by the actual ‘live athlete’ International Sporting Federations for that sport.     For example, for Zwift (Cycling), it is actually ‘Union Cycliste Internationale’, the governing body for cycling events around the world which will oversee the Esports event.   The same applies for several of the above approved Olympic Esports.

 

[Guilga]

Yes, this is the problem. That's the reason i put it out in the questions in first place.

[Sir Rols]

1 hour ago, Guilga said:

the dumbest people on earth (gamers) 

Lol! I don’t know if I should take that as a personal insult or not. I’ve been a gamer since the 80s (I was the of the first games writers and reviewers in Australia) and these days usually play 4-6 hours daily (yeah, I’m now retired). I consider them one of the most dynamic and innovative art forms that have arisen in recent years. The story-telling and immersion of titles like The Last of Us and Red, Dead Redemption rival anything in cinema or literature - no wonder Hollywood continues to try to mine (with very mixed success) the gaming genre for new ideas.

That said, PVP games that make up the bulk of e-sports tournaments are not my favoured titles - though I have watched Twitch streams of tournaments. I’m more into story-driven open world RPGs and MMOs. They offer a big social drawcard for me.

2 hours ago, AustralianFan said:

The IOC has signalled already the Esports it likes as seen in the Olympic Esports series in Singapore last year.

Below is a complete list of the Olympic Esports 2023:

Question: Are you a gamer? Do you realise the IOC list hardly includes any games that are popular, especially as spectator games.

Of those, the only ones with such an appeal and audience are:

* Gran Turismo. The only one I’d agree with unequivocally.

* Chess.com. Yes, chess has enjoyed heightened popularity in recent years through The Queens Gambit and online - and some notoriety (anal probe cheating, anyone?), but surely online is a far poorer tournament setting than the traditional two people across a physical chessboard. And

* Fortnite. Except the IOC, in their “wisdom”, strip back all the facets that make it so popular - Battle Royale to the last man standing - and are trying to turn it into a boring target shoot game. The mind boggles!

2 hours ago, Guilga said:

Organizing yourself is important, but you have to convince the old man to know what the target audience for a Virtual Olympics really want, and this might include some stuff that techinically could break the Olympic Charter for them...

Exactly, that’s the big flaw. Bach is typical of the clueless gaming observers who buy into the whole tired and discredited “moral panic” fear of gaming (think of the children! It’s going to turn them all violent!). He thinks he’s buying into “youth“, but is shunning the titles and genres that really make esports popular - PVP battle arena shooters like DOTA, Overwatch, League of Legends and Counterstrike.

[AustralianFan]

6 minutes ago, Sir Rols said:

Question:  Do you realise the IOC list hardly includes any games that are popular, especially as spectator games.

Of those, the only ones with such an appeal and audience are:

* Gran Turismo. The only one I’d agree with unequivocally.

* Chess.com. Yes, chess has enjoyed heightened popularity in recent years through The Queens Gambit and online - and some notoriety (anal probe cheating, anyone?), but surely online is a far poorer tournament setting than the traditional two people across a physical chessboard. And

* Fortnite. Except the IOC, in their “wisdom”, strip back all the facets that make it so popular - Battle Royale to the last man standing - and are trying to turn it into a boring target shoot game. The mind boggles!

Exactly, that’s the big flaw. Bach is typical of the clueless gaming observers who buy into the whole tired and discredited “moral panic” fear of gaming (think of the children! It’s going to turn them all violent!). He thinks he’s buying into “youth“, but is shunning the titles and genres that really make esports popular - PVP battle arena shooters like DOTA, Overwatch, League of Legends and Counterstrike.

Other popular esports games were around too when the Olympic Esports series was conducted in Singapore. 

But the Singapore Olympic Esports Series competiti9n programme is the strongest indication or “guide” yet as to which Esports competitions the IOC will allow into the inaugural Esports Olympics.

There’s a bit of work and negaotiation to go yet between this new E-sports Leadership Group which is in essence to international sporting federations combining and cooperating to bring about the very first E-Sports Olympic Games.  This includes agreeing /  finalising exactly what Esports will be included in the inaugural Games.

We wait to see exactly what exactly the final Esports Olympics Competition Programme will be, as we always do for existing Olympic Games.  I would think that each subsequent Olympic Esports Games conducted after the inaugural one, will always go through a validation/assessment process of which new Esports will be added, or not added,  to the next edition of the Games.

 

 

 

[Sir Rols]

Yes, but Bach has specifically said he DOESN’T want combat-oriented shooter games - hence his neutering of Fortnite. It’s an incredibly naive and clueless approach and willfully ignores what is really driving e-sports and spectator gaming. The Singapore roster just shows how little the IOC understand it.

Edited January 27, 2024 by Sir Rols

[AustralianFan]

It was a mere 4 months ago that the IOC Esports Commission was established in September 2023.

As I said, what ends up on the esports programme for the inaugural Games, amd what does not,  is still to be negotiated. We wait and see what that final shortlist or Esports competition programme will end up being …. ?

It’s early days yet but here are some takeaways or parameters if you like from when *Bach announced IOC plan to launch the inaugural Olympic Esports Games at the Mumbai IOC full session last October:

• *Bach also urged a change of mindset to exploit the opportunities of artificial intelligence (AI)”
• *a target has not been set for the launch of the Olympic Esports Games
• *The IOC has hailed its Olympic Esports Week as a success, pointing to 500,000 unique participants in the wider Olympic Esports Series, more than six million views on live channels and the attendance of more than 130 participants across 10 events in Singapore.
• *It faced some criticism, however, from fans for the inclusion of titles such as Tic Tac Bow which were not considered esports and omitting those such as Dota 2, League of Legends and Counter-Strike.
• *Bach has consistently warned that games perceived to glorify violence will not be welcome, and claimed today its approach to esports is increasingly popular.
• *It is estimated that over 500 million of them are interested specifically in esports, which includes virtual sports and sport simulations, Bach said
• *We chose an approach that would allow us to be active in the esports space while staying true to our values that have guided us for over a century. 
• *With respect to esports, our values are and remain the red line that we will not cross. 
• *”Our crystal clear position is gaining more and more respect in the esports community."
• *Bach outlined areas in which AI could "revolutionise" sport, including creating individualised training plans for athletes, refereeing and judging, organising the Olympic Games, broadcasting and spectator experience (this in reference to all Olympic Games)  

[krow]

37 minutes ago, Sir Rols said:

Exactly, that’s the big flaw. Bach is typical of the clueless gaming observers who buy into the whole tired and discredited “moral panic” fear of gaming (think of the children! It’s going to turn them all violent!). He thinks he’s buying into “youth“, but is shunning the titles and genres that really make esports popular - PVP battle arena shooters like DOTA, Overwatch, League of Legends and Counterstrike.

this is exactly why i said these decisions baffle me.

although i do understand his moral panic reasoning - he thinks explicit violence will taint the olympic brand, despite the brand featuring shooting sports, modern pentathlon (designed to test soldier training skills)/biathlon, martial arts 1v1 combat, and endless doping scandals. 

back in june, rob roused himself to write up this decent explainer of why this venture is destined to fail, though as usual it's not cynical enough.

the most obvious explanation of why the IOC is bothering with any of this in the first place is -- surprise! — money. they see an esports bubble flush with cash flowing everywhere but their pockets and they don't mind trading a little olympic prestige to get it. but as always, they want to do it THEIR way, which is completely misguided and pointless. no matter. 

i literally don't even know what the grift is but, c'mon, you KNOW there's a grift. let's brainstorm a moment for kicks. 

• new slush fund er exploratory commission funding
• huge consultancy fees to friends who know less about esports than they do
• five star travel to japan etc. (coca cola products at the imperial palace, please!)
• new jobs for petty aristocrats, nepo babies and failsons
• a shot at getting leagues and game developers greasing their palms for favorable treatment
• massive event planning/technology contracts to friends
• NBC money (???) 

the sad part is, with the exception of NBC, i'm probably not even thinking big enough, though i do think i'm on the right track. this is 99.9999% a cash grab and possibly a money laundering scheme.

you literally can't be too cynical with these people. however bad you think it is, i guarantee it's a thousand times worse.

[Sir Rols]

^^^

Yep!

and the thing is, none of these chosen “sports” are popular. But you can bet your bottom dollar there’s some training academy in Beijing right now grooming five-year-olds to be future archery tic-tac-toe gold medalists.

[krow]

they couldn't care less about the esports athletes or the competitor pool. i sincerely doubt bach has given four seconds of thought as to who exactly will be competing in this tournament. 

their heart is simply not in it,  but then you read lines like this from a recent gamesbids story and it all makes sense.

Quote

The 2024 IESF World Esports Championships set to take place in Riyadh in November could have the largest prize pool in esports history according to industry reports.

how much do you want to bet all the usual IOC suspects will be in riyadh sucking face with saudi royals and begging for free shopping sprees at gucci. 

truly we are living in the most cursed timeline.

[AustralianFan]

2 hours ago, krow said:

they couldn't care less about the esports athletes or the competitor pool. i sincerely doubt bach has given four seconds of thought as to who exactly will be competing in this tournament. 

their heart is simply not in it,  but then you read lines like this from a recent gamesbids story and it all makes sense.

how much do you want to bet all the usual IOC suspects will be in riyadh sucking face with saudi royals and begging for free shopping sprees at gucci. 

truly we are living in the most cursed timeline.

What a load of conspiracy theory claptrap.   Seriously ….

[Guilga]

11 hours ago, Sir Rols said:

Lol! I don’t know if I should take that as a personal insult or not. I’ve been a gamer since the 80s (I was the of the first games writers and reviewers in Australia) and these days usually play 4-6 hours daily (yeah, I’m now retired). I consider them one of the most dynamic and innovative art forms that have arisen in recent years. The story-telling and immersion of titles like The Last of Us and Red, Dead Redemption rival anything in cinema or literature - no wonder Hollywood continues to try to mine (with very mixed success) the gaming genre for new ideas.

That said, PVP games that make up the bulk of e-sports tournaments are not my favoured titles - though I have watched Twitch streams of tournaments. I’m more into story-driven open world RPGs and MMOs. They offer a big social drawcard for me.

Question: Are you a gamer? Do you realise the IOC list hardly includes any games that are popular, especially as spectator games.

Of those, the only ones with such an appeal and audience are:

* Gran Turismo. The only one I’d agree with unequivocally.

* Chess.com. Yes, chess has enjoyed heightened popularity in recent years through The Queens Gambit and online - and some notoriety (anal probe cheating, anyone?), but surely online is a far poorer tournament setting than the traditional two people across a physical chessboard. And

* Fortnite. Except the IOC, in their “wisdom”, strip back all the facets that make it so popular - Battle Royale to the last man standing - and are trying to turn it into a boring target shoot game. The mind boggles!

Exactly, that’s the big flaw. Bach is typical of the clueless gaming observers who buy into the whole tired and discredited “moral panic” fear of gaming (think of the children! It’s going to turn them all violent!). He thinks he’s buying into “youth“, but is shunning the titles and genres that really make esports popular - PVP battle arena shooters like DOTA, Overwatch, League of Legends and Counterstrike.

Oh, interesting to know that past reviewing carrer! I made that statement with some of the avid ones in mind, people that unironically make console wars in the XXI Century, keep buying or giving money and time for the thing they complain about every year or day, including the expensive micro transactions, and the worse ones even being the kind who you would like to ban around this place for offensive language. These publishers are so greedy nowadays that is surprising some one even can defend it, but some do. The magic of capitalism. Of course, I myself like to play games too! (After all, you have to make this kind of statement knowing what you say.) Although I might be a hardcore casual, if that is even possible.

And for the last paragraph: I wanna add fighting games as medal event as well, you also can't do a video game Olympics without that! In fact, EVO is kinda a fighter Olympics already, the IOC should take notes from it.

[krow]

no that's not a conspiracy theory. it's more the simplest and most obvious answer to the otherwise puzzling question of why the IOC would go to the trouble of creating an esports tournament.

a conspiracy theory would be to suggest that you are a creation of the IOC's damage control crisis PR firm who pays some 23 year old social media manager to assume the "australian fan" identity and flood this forum with nonsensical pro-IOC propaganda, while trolling us badly with the intention of making this forum so uninviting and unpleasant people stop posting here. why? because the combination of anti-IOC negativity + knowledgable posters who are extremely informed about venues and bidding was hurting IOC feelings, and giving journalists damaging story ideas and research tips, so they resolved to make the forum obsolete itself. 

do you see the difference?

of course you do, because you are a highly intelligent 23-year-old university educated misinformation specialist with a degree in internet psychology who only pretends to be clueless and slow. we know.

[AustralianFan]

8 hours ago, krow said:

 

a conspiracy theory would be to suggest that you are a creation of the IOC's damage control crisis PR firm who pays some 23 year old social media manager to assume the "australian fan" identity and flood this forum with nonsensical pro-IOC propaganda, while trolling us badly with the intention of making this forum so uninviting and unpleasant people stop posting here. why? because the combination of anti-IOC negativity + knowledgable posters who are extremely informed about venues and bidding was hurting IOC feelings, and giving journalists damaging story ideas and research tips, so they resolved to make the forum obsolete itself. 

More conspiracy theories.

@krow   …. you really can’t help yourself, can you?

 

 

[AustralianFan]

@krow what E-Sports Games do you think will be included in the competition schedule for the inaugural Olympic Esports Games?

[krow]

23 minutes ago, AustralianFan said:

 

@krow   …. you really can’t help yourself, can you?

not really, no.

[AustralianFan]

27 minutes ago, AustralianFan said:

More conspiracy theories.

@krow   …. you really can’t help yourself, can you?

 

 

4 minutes ago, krow said:

not really, no.

Ok, well I’ll let you in one something, I’m closer to 70 than I am to 60.  Just a lone Olympic fan living and working from home base in Melbourne, that’s it.  Have a big back yard with vegies and lots of dwarf fruit trees in pots.  Have been a spectator at the Sydney 2000, Athens 2004 and Melbourne 2006 Games.  Have worked in two cycling events at Athens 2004 and planning to work and be a spectator at the Brisbane 2032 Games.  I’m trying to be in LA also for the 2028 Games if my work schedule can be aligned to the Games dates.

 

[Sir Rols]

2 hours ago, AustralianFan said:

 …. you really can’t help yourself, can you?

With all due respect, neither can you when it comes to defending the IOC and its press releases. Just look at this thread - the mere existence of a couple of posts critiquing the IOC’s e-games strategy prompts you to come in and smother them with old IOC press releases and a list of its games that have been posted here elsewhere before. That’s what puzzles and annoys people here - why are you so hell bent of shielding the IOC from criticism, be it constructive or derisive? Do you really think they’re above criticism? Do you really think discussion forums aren’t for discussions and criticism?

Which is why I asked if you were a gamer. Because anybody with even casual knowledge of gaming can see what a pitiful and ridiculous roster of games the IOC is choosing for its e-games plans. And saying it’s subject to change won’t cut it when Bach has already publicly “red-lined” any of the games that are really driving competitive gaming and e-sports tournaments - PVP shooters. 

[AustralianFan]

I really do hope that the early reports from the Japan Times about Japan having the inside running to be host of the inaugural Olympic Esports Games turn out to be a prophecy which is fulfilled.

Inaugural Esports Games - Japan 2026

 But fully aware from the most recent reports that the IOC is in talks with several interested parties, not just Japan.

One question I have is it the Olympic Esports Commission which will have the responsibility to enter dialogue with this Esports Leadership Group and also interested parties with a recommendaiton for targeted dialogue with a preferred bidder/s?  I’m assuming so (?) similar to the Future Host Commissions for the Summer and Winter Games.

[Sir Rols]

^^^^

And case in point.

For something you don’t seem to know much about, you seem to expend a lot of energy posting about it.

[AustralianFan]

21 hours ago, krow said:

this is 99.9999% a cash grab and possibly a money laundering scheme.

“Money laundering scheme” ??  that is as whacky as it gets ……...  with no evidence whatsoever.  Just paranoia.  That’s the very definition of a conspiracy theory and is baseless nonsense.
—————————————————————-

This is thread is about the formation of a cooperative leadership group of the two international esports federations in the buildup to the inaugural Olympic Esports Games.

Yes, there will be an Olympic Esports Games, which I’m guessing will be held evey 4 years (?).  

So, in total there will now be 

1. Olympic Games
2. Olympic Winter Games
3. Youth Olympic Games
4. Winter Youth Olympic Games
5. Olympic Esports Games

[Sir Rols]

It’s also on-topic as a thread to discuss the pros and cons of the IOC’s e-sports strategy. Surely a timely place for those of us into gaming to point out the shortcomings of the IOC’s approach.

[AustralianFan]

1 minute ago, Sir Rols said:

It’s also on-topic as a thread to discuss the pros and cons of the IOC’s e-sports strategy.

As is @krow ‘s post about “money laundering” about as whacky as it gets in the buildup to the inaugural Esports Games.