Date 16 Jul 2018 Tags IOC News, Olympic News

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Global Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF) have announced the organisations will host an “Esports Forum” on 21 July at The Olympic Museum in Lausanne.

The event will be streamed live on the IOC Media YouTube channel. To join in the conversation on Twitter, with the chance for some questions to be put to the Forum panellists, use the hashtag #EsportsForum and follow @iocmedia, @GAISF_sport and @GAISF_President.

The aim of the Forum is to explore synergies, build joint understanding and set a platform for future engagement between the esports and gaming industries and the Olympic Movement.

Invited participants will include representatives from across the esports and gaming ecosystem: players, publishers, teams, media, sponsors and event organisers; and from across the Olympic Movement: National Olympic Committees, International Sports Federations, athletes, the IOC and GAISF.

For further information regarding the participants and programme, please click here.

GAISF President Patrick Baumann said: "Along with the IOC, the GAISF looks forward to welcoming the esports and gaming community to Lausanne. We understand that sport never stands still and the phenomenal growth of esports and gaming is part of its continuing evolution. The Esports Forum provides an important and extremely valuable opportunity for us to gain a deeper understanding of esports, their impact and likely future development, so that we can jointly consider the ways in which we may collaborate to the mutual benefit of all of sport in the years ahead."

Intel/ESL

IOC Sports Director Kit McConnell said: “We are pleased to be hosting our first “Esports Forum”, which is a great opportunity for both the Olympic Movement and representatives from the world of esports and gaming to begin a discussion, listen and learn from each other, and understand the potential opportunities for collaboration. The IOC and GAISF are closely following the rapid development of esports globally, and we look forward to a really engaging discussion.”

The Forum follows the Olympic Summit held in October 2017, which asked the IOC, together with the GAISF, to explore this area in a dialogue with the gaming industry and players and to come back to the Olympic Movement stakeholders in due course.

Forum programme highlights:

PANEL: THE WORLD OF ESPORTS

Leading esports and gaming industry executives will share their thoughts on where the industry is now, what the current priorities are, and what they would like to see in terms of collaboration opportunities with the Olympic Movement.

INTERVIEW: WHAT DEFINES THE OLYMPIC MOVEMENT?

An interview by an esports player with an IOC representative to shed light on the various factors and events that have shaped the Olympic Movement as we know it today, and to provide insight on where it is headed.

INTERVIEW: THE KEY TO TWITCH’S SUCCESS

KEYNOTE SPEAKER: SPOTLIGHT ON INTEL EXTREME MASTERS PYEONGCHANG

FUTURE OPPORTUNITIES FOR COLLABORATION

INTERVIEW: A DAY IN THE LIFE OF AN ELITE PLAYER

PANEL: GENDER EQUALITY IN ALL SPORTS

ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSIONS:

SPORTS ORGANISATIONS – GOVERNANCE, STRUCTURES AND BEST PRACTICES

Covering “good governance”, the structural similarities and differences between esports organisations and traditional sports federations, and challenges in both industries.

MEDIA/BROADCASTING

Exploring new technologies and consumer preferences that are shaping the way sports/esports/gaming content is consumed, different models to create revenue, targeting the youth demographic, and methods to broaden fan bases.

THE ATHLETE PERSPECTIVE

Featuring traditional sports athletes, Olympians and esports players. Covering what defines an athlete, challenges faced by each “type” of athlete, health and wellness, opportunities post-retirement, and how Olympians and esports players engage with fans.

THE INVESTOR PERSPECTIVE

Exploring investment in esports and gaming, the attraction for traditional sport to become involved in esports, learnings from each industry, and how esports and traditional sports can work together for mutual benefits.

For general enquiries, please contact: esportsforum@olympic.org

For media enquiries, please contact the IOC Media Relations Team:

Tel: +41 21 621 6000, email: pressoffice@olympic.org, or visit our website at www.olympic.org