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| (Image Source: eSports Insider/International Olympic Committee) |
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is officially launching its own series of sports-centric professional gaming competitions in partnership with several video game publishers and developers and various international sports federations. Highly regarded as the Committee's maiden entry into the world of virtual sports which is simply well-known as eSports, the Olympic Virtual Series (OVS) is set to take place ahead of the upcoming Tokyo Olympics and will be held starting May 13, 2021 until June 23rd.
In order to reach new audiences while encouraging the development of physical and non-physical forms of sports, the OVS will mobilize sports, gaming and eSports enthusiasts around the world and create a stage that will connect the physical sporting world with the virtual and simulation sports gaming community through the mass participation series staged by the International Federations which enables everyone to take part and compete within either the safe comforts of their own home or inside their respective training facilities. Taking part in the first ever Olympic Virtual Series are eBaseball Powerful Pro Baseball 2020 by Konami Digital Entertainment, Zwift, Virtual Regatta and Polyphony Digital's Gran Turismo as well as an undisclosed open format for virtual rowing.
“The Olympic Virtual Series is a new, unique Olympic digital experience that aims to grow direct engagement with new audiences in the field of virtual sports. Its conception is in line with Olympic Agenda 2020+5 and the IOC’s Digital Strategy. It encourages sports participation and promotes the Olympic values, with a special focus on youth," said IOC President Thomas Bach. For IOC's eSports And Gaming Liaison Group Chairman and Union Cyclists Internationale (UCI) President David Lappartient, “On behalf of the ELG, as well as the UCI, I am delighted to be involved in the launch of the first-ever Olympic Virtual Series. A number of IFs have well established virtual sports initiatives; and thanks to the cooperation between the IOC, the IFs and the publishers, the OVS is an exciting step forward for the virtual sports world and the Olympic Movement”.
The five events comprising the Olympic Virtual Series will come in different forms and concepts and will operate under the publisher platforms of the respective sports where interested participants can take part and participate, while fans can have the opportunity to engage and follow these events on the Olympic Channel. More information on the Olympic Virtual Series will be announced soon, so stay updated by visiting www.olympicchannel.com.
