The International Olympic Committee announced that the first virtual Olympic series will be held in five eSports disciplines
In recent years eSports have become very popular. That is why it was revealed that they will be present at the Tokyo Olympics 2021.
A few months after starting the Olympics the International Olympic Committee (COI) announced on its Twitter account that the first virtual olympic series in five disciplines.
This competition is possible thanks to the IOC’s partnership with the official federations of five sports
- WBSC (baseball)
- UCI (cycling)
- World Rowing (rowing)
- World Sailing (sailing)
- FIA (motorsport)
What are the video games that will participate in the first virtual Olympic series?
Each of the organizations was in charge of selecting a videogame for the eSports:
- WBSC – eBaseball Powerful Pro Baseball 2020, Konami Digital Entertainment
- UCI – Zwift, Zwift inc.
- Rowing – Open format
- Sailing – Virtual Regatta, Virtual Regatta SAS
- FIA – Gran Turismo, Polyphony Digital
“On behalf of the ELG, as well as the UCI, I am delighted to participate in the launch of the first Olympic Virtual Series. Several FIs have well-established virtual sports initiatives; and thanks to the cooperation between the IOC, the FIs and the publishers, the OVS is an exciting step forward for the world of virtual sport and the Olympic Movement, ”said David Lappartient, President of the Esports and Games Liaison Group ( ELG) of the IOC.
The IOC highlighted that there were more federations interested so they doubt that in the future more sports can be added to the virtual olympic series.
Among the organizations that had shown interest were: the football federation (FIFA), the basketball federation (FIBA), the tennis federation (ITF) and the Taekwondo federation (WT).
The eSports of the Tokyo Olympics 2021 They will be held from May 13 to June 23. The body states that this competition is aimed at e-sports enthusiasts, as well as lovers of sports. eSports and the video game.
“The Olympic Virtual Series is a new and unique Olympic digital experience that aims to increase direct engagement with new audiences in the field of virtual sports. Its conception is in line with the 2020 + 5 Olympic Agenda and the IOC Digital Strategy. It encourages sports participation and promotes Olympic values, with a special focus on youth ”, highlighted Thomas Bach, president of the International Olympic Committee.
The global organizing company of the eSports It will be DreamHack, known for their massive eSports events in Europe and North America.
