Worldwide TOP Partner Intel today announced plans to bring amazing gaming experiences to PyeongChang ahead of next February’s Olympic Winter Games.

Intel will deliver two distinct gaming experiences to Korea in the lead-up to PyeongChang 2018: the Intel® Extreme Masters PyeongChang esports tournament, featuring one of the most celebrated esports titles of all time, Blizzard Entertainment’s “StarCraft® II”, and a separate exhibition featuring Ubisoft’s action-sports title “Steep™ Road to the Olympics”, the official licensed game of the Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018.

Timo Lumme, Managing Director of IOC Television and Marketing Services, said: “We are proud to have our Worldwide TOP Partner Intel bring this competition to PyeongChang in the lead-up to the Olympic Winter Games 2018. Following on from the Olympic Summit last week, the IOC will now explore esports’ relationship with the Olympic Movement further. This is just the start of an exciting future and we’re interested to see how this experience will play out.”

We are proud to have our Worldwide TOP Partner Intel bring this competition to PyeongChang in the lead-up to the Olympic Winter Games 2018. Timo Lumme Managing Director of IOC Television and Marketing Services

The Intel Extreme Masters PyeongChang competition will be open to any player, at any level, via global online qualifiers, which will take place in November. A live qualifier event will also take place in Beijing in December between the top two qualifiers from China, with the winner moving on to compete against the rest of the field in PyeongChang in the lead-up to the Olympic Winter Games 2018.

“Esports is a growing cultural phenomenon expected to reach about 500 million fans worldwide by 2020. Leading up to PyeongChang 2018, Intel’s goal is to share the thrilling esports experience with sports fans around the world,” said Gregory Bryant, Senior Vice-President and General Manager of the Client Computing Group at Intel Corporation. “Intel has pushed the boundaries of esports for more than 15 years, and we’re committed to growing esports at every global sporting stage, including this groundbreaking tournament in PyeongChang.”

Intel has pushed the boundaries of esports for more than 15 years, and we’re committed to growing esports at every global sporting stage, including this groundbreaking tournament in PyeongChang. Gregory Bryant Intel Corporation

Building on the Intel Extreme Masters demonstration, Intel will also deliver interactive gaming experiences throughout the Olympic Village for attendees and athletes, with game kiosks featuring “Steep Road to the Olympics”, the official licensed game of the Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018. Olympic and gaming fans will also have the opportunity to compete to be the best in an exhibition featuring “Steep Road to the Olympics”. Additional competition and qualification details will be shared in November.

Geoffroy Sardin, Senior Vice-President of Sales and Marketing at Ubisoft, said: “We’re proud to be part of the esports exhibition leading into the Winter Olympics that will provide fans with more ways to engage with the sports they love. We have been developing “Steep Road to the Olympics” in close relation with the IOC and we are now looking forward to this competition. We cannot wait for our fans to play and compete in our new expansion.”

Fans will be able follow the action and watch the competition unfold on the Olympic Channel global digital platform, as well as additional broadcast and digital partners to be announced in the near future.

The International Olympic Committee and Intel announced their long-term Worldwide TOP Partnership in June. Intel is working with the IOC to reimagine the future of the Olympic Games with new levels of fan interaction through leading-edge technology.