The Olympic Esports Series, an esports competition organised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), has announced the titles that will be featured at the inaugural Olympic Esports Week.
In addition, the IOC unveiled the organising committee for the Olympic Esports Series that will take place in Singapore from June 22nd-25th.
The Olympic Esports Series will feature nine titles, including chess through the Chess.com platform and motorsport by utilising sim racing title Gran Turismo 7. Other titles include Tic Tac Bow (Archery), WBSC eBASEBALL™: POWER PROS (Baseball), Zwift (Cycling), Just Dance (Dance), Virtual Regatta (Sailing), Tennis Clash (Tennis) and Virtual Taekwondo (Taekwondo).
Each event is also supported by the sports’ relevant bodies, such as the International Chess Federation and International Tennis Federation.
According to a release, the Olympic Esports Series ‘marks another step in supporting the development of virtual sports within the Olympic Movement.’ Open to professional and amateur players, the Olympic Esports Series takes place at the Suntec Singapore Convention & Exhibition Centre alongside panel discussions and technology exhibitions.
The steering committee comprises of IOC Vice President Ng Ser Miang and Singapore’s Minister of State for Culture, Community, Youth, Trade, and Industry Alvin Tan who will act as co-chairs.
First announced in November 2022, the Olympic Esports Series is another move for the IOC as it looks to explore how it can integrate esports under the Olympic banner. In April 2021, it hosted the Olympic Virtual Series that coincided with the start of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
Mark Chay, Co-chair of the Olympic Esports Week Organising Committee, spoke on the event: “Singapore has successfully staged many major sporting and virtual sport events over the years. The Olympic Esports Week 2023 will be a display of the best of both, as those attending will get to watch and enjoy the benefits of combining physical and virtual sport.
“Hosting the Olympic Esports Week 2023 is a boost to our local esports ecosystem and strengthens Singapore’s status as the ideal destination for virtual sports.”
