Global Esports at the nexus of Esports and sport in the digital age
The Global Esports Federation confirmed the establishment of the International Federations Advisory Council (IFAC) and the Publishers and Developers Advisory Council (PDAC) to provide expert advice to the GEF Board in their respective fields following the successful launch of the #worldconnected Initiative in partnership with Tencent Esports, at the recent 2020 Global Esports Summit in Hainan, China.
The IFAC is established to supplement the GEF’s knowledge capacity and to assist the International Federations scale for real impact of the digital age. The GEF Executive Committee has appointed Dr. Chungwon Choue, President of World Taekwondo, as Chair of the IFAC. The GEF was established as a convening platform for the world’s esports community and has created powerful opportunities for the convergence of esports, sport, technology and innovation.
“World Taekwondo is proud to be among the first International Federations to join the GEF in ushering the digital era for traditional sports. I am therefore honored to chair the IFAC and enhance the understanding among the International Federations about esports,” said Dr. Chungwon Choue. “The IFAC will help to strengthen the convening efforts of the GEF for the world’s dynamic esports community; deepening awareness on the power of technology in sport and our daily lives, as well as facilitating greater dialogue between International Federations and technology partners, creating new opportunities to extend real sport experience beyond reality.”
In addition to membership from the International Federations; senior representatives from the Global Sports Innovation Center powered by Microsoft (GSIC), International Telecommunication Union (ITU), and Refract – the GEF’s Global Partner for Interactive Technology – will join also the IFAC.
“The technological know-how to simulate real sport practice in a digital space now exists and the demand is well established and growing,” said Chris Chan, President, Global Esports Federation. “Our daily lives are very much immersed in technology; and it will continue to play a vital role with the power to enhance physical sport and societal connections. We look to convene this powerful community and facilitate real opportunities to develop, prosper and grow.”
The PDAC will be led by a rotational Chair from the Publisher community. Beyond advising the GEF Board, this Advisory Council acts as a conduit between the esports publishers and developers’ community, the GEF Board and its Member Federations. The PDAC will facilitate community-wide interactions enabling information sharing, shared learning opportunities and various tangible initiatives.
“The communication and cooperation between publishers and the member federations is imperative to create the conditions for the convergence of esports, virtual and traditional sport to thrive,” said Hideki Okamura, Chairman of the Board of SEGA Group Co., Ltd, Representative Director of Japan esports Union (JeSU), and Member of the GEF Board. “The PDAC will be an added impetus to bridge the two worlds – esports and sport – and jointly develop avenues to advance the opportunities for esports.”
