International eSports Organization Partners with Traditional Sports Organization to Bridge Gap Between Old and New Sports
Last April 21, 2015 at the Sochi EXPO Centre — the venue of the 2015 Sport Accord Convention in Sochi, Russia — the International eSports Federation (IeSF) and the Athletics for a Better World (powered by the International Association of Athletics Federations or IAAF) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to promote eSports as a fast growing sports discipline and its positive impact to players and fans worldwide.
Athletics for a Better World offered the partnership with IeSF after acknowledging eSports’ phenomenal growth as a spectator sport in the past few years. IeSF has been a strong proponent in eSports’ growth, championing the addition of eSport disciplines in the Olympic games.
In 2013, IeSF became an official signatory to the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and was recognized by The Association for International Sports for All (TAFISA) in 2014. The partnership between IESF and IAAF marks the first time that the eSports organization has partnered with another organization from a different sporting discipline.
Through the partnership, IeSF will join Athletics for a Better World in delivering a positive message of health, social inclusion, personal development and peace through athletics and eSports. IeSF is planning to promote sound athletics and good health among all eSports activities, its participants and fans.
In a statement, Deputy Secretary General for the IAAF Nick Davies said, “As the number one Olympic sport we are always looking at new ways and new means of technology to help engage young people and encourage them to take up athletics. E-Sports is one of the fastest growing sports in the world and we’re delighted to become the first governing body to partner with the IeSF. We look forward to a prosperous relationship and can’t wait to start working on new and exciting opportunities together.”
Through the same statement, IeSF President Byung Hun Jun said that “This partnership will definitely enhance the status of IeSF within the international sports society and it is a reflection that the international sports society is continuously paying attention on e-Sports. By showing soundness of e-Sports and continuous exchange with international sports society, IeSF will endeavor to make the e-Sports to be recognized as official sports.”
Athletics for a Better World, whose ambassadors include former Olympians Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Paula Radcliffe and Wilson Kipketer, will look to develop training plans and fitness programs to help professional and recreational gamers alike perform at the highest levels.
According to the IeSF, the eSports federation will benefit from the IAAF’s 100 years worth of knowledge and experience to develop plans for the future of their partnership.
This will include live demonstration workshops with some of the world’s top professional gamers as well as Olympic athletes who have all expressed a love of computer games such as Aries Merritt (USA, Gold medal list in 2012 London Olympics men’s 100m hurdles), Warren Weir (Jamaica, Bronze medalist in 2012 London Olympics men’s 200m race) and Christian Taylor (USA, Gold medalist in 2012 London Olympics men’s triple jump).
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