THE GLOBAL ESPORTS FEDERATION LAUNCHED TO SHAPE FUTURE OF ESPORTS

• Global esports organisation to cultivate collaboration, forge synergies,

develop, and grow esports and sport-based esports community

• Forum to develop safe, healthy, sustainable esports ecosystem of athletes,

sport organisations, commercial partners, among others

• A voice and authority for international esports coordination

Singapore, 16 December 2019 – Esports (electronic sports) is one of the most exciting and

fastest growing competitive sports around the world, clearly evident in the exponential rise

of its technology-savvy millennial athletes and fan base, along with a parallel growth of an

ecosystem of developers, media, advertisers, to name a few. Increased availability of online

streaming media platforms, particularly YouTube and Twitch, has further fuelled esports

popularity and viewership, making esports into an international phenomenon.

Research firm Newzoo1, has predicted that global esports revenue this year will surpass US$1

billion for the first time, growing to US$1.1 billion – a year-on-year growth of 26.7% and

estimated esports audience will reach 453.8 million people, a year-on-year growth of 15%.

Early this month, the Olympic Summit announced it saw great potential in esports as many

sports simulations are becoming more physical due to the advancement of virtual and

augmented reality; and urged the International Federations to consider how to incorporate

them into the sports movement.

Today, esports has reached yet another defining watershed with the official worldwide launch

of the Global Esports Federation (GEF), which will be the first-ever global governing body for

the esports ecosystem of athletes, sports organisations, commercial partners, and other

constituents, guided by the values of sport and the principle of harnessing technology and

innovation for good.

At the launch, the GEF also signed an agreement with Founding Global Partner, Tencent.

The signing of the agreement was conducted by Mr Chris Chan, President of the Global

Esports Federation, and Mr Edward Cheng, Vice President of Tencent, who will also serve as

a Vice President of the GEF.

The occasion was witnessed by Guest-of-Honour, Ms Grace Fu, Minister for Culture,

Community and Youth; Vice Presidents of GEF – Ms Charmaine Crooks, a five-time Olympian

and Board Member of the Canadian Olympic Committee; and Mr Wei Jizhong, Honorary Life

Vice President of the Olympic Council of Asia; as well as Board Members of GEF and

representatives from the world’s esports, sporting, and commercial community.

Mr Chris Chan, President, Global Esports Federation remarked at the signing, "We are

excited to navigate the pathway and shape the future with the launch of the Global Esports

Federation. The GEF will help develop the credibility, legitimacy, and prestige to esports in

society by leveraging the history, foundations, the values of sport, and the principle of

harnessing technology and innovation for sports. The commitment of Tencent and the vision

of the leadership team are evident in this groundbreaking moment to join GEF as our

Founding Global Partner. The inclusion of Tencent will tremendously help in the growth,

education, culture, and wellness of the esports ecosystem."

Speaking about the partnership between Tencent as the Founding Global Partner and the

GEF, Mr Edward Cheng, Vice President, Tencent, reiterated the company’s commitment,

"With our collective effort, I believe esports will unleash the unlimited possibilities of sports

in the Digital Age. On the path to building a community with a shared future for mankind,

esports will shine!"

The GEF Board today confirmed Singapore as the Global Operations Headquarters after

considering several other global cities. The GEF will focus on four key pillars: connecting

traditional and active esports with the global sporting community; active youth participation;

world-class governance and compliance standards; and education, culture, and wellness.

In fulfilling its mission, the GEF has laid out its first five initial objectives going forward:

• Encourage and support the establishment of National Esports Federations with a set of

relevant standards, guidelines, and regulations;

• Establish an athlete commission, with a focus on athlete well-being, development of

standards for fair play, career support, and education to ensure safe, doping free, and

ethically compliant practices;

• Convene and stage esports competitions, conventions, fora, and development

programmes;

• Development of world class governance structures and guidelines for the Global Esports

Federation; and;

• Create, develop, and stage the annual flagship Global Esports Games, with the first

Games to be staged in 2020.

Membership into the GEF is open to sports organisations including international and national

federations and other sports organisations; commercial organisations such as publishers,

developers, sponsors, and event organisers; and non-commercial organisations including

cities and other non-government organisations.

For more information on Global Esports Federation, visit www.globalesports.org.

Get Social:

Facebook: @GlobalEsportsFederation

YouTube: Global Esports Federation

LinkedIn: GE Federation

Twitter: @GE_Federation

Instagram: @GlobalEsportsFederation

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