The 4th Asian Indoor & Martial arts Games Incheon 2013 has been hosted in Incheon Korea from June 29 to July 6 with the slogan of “Diversity Shines Here”. In this event, 2,400 delegates from 44 Asian nations participated in 12 sports events including e-sports.
Within e-Sports events, 88 athletes from 13 Asian nations participated, and competed for the 6 titles: FIFA 13, Special Force, Starcraft II, League of Legends, Tekken Tag Tournament 2 and Need for Speed.
e-Sports has been selected as the official sports discipline for this mega-sports event for twice in a row, and for this time, International e- Sports Federation (IeSF), as the official counterpart of Olympic Council of Asia, supported and supervised the operation of esports event in general including selection of game titles, dispatching international referees, technical officials and juries and technical support. Especially, IeSF supported organizing and dispatching national delegates with its member national associations, which made the event distinguished from the past event as increasing the size of the participating nations.
IeSF, prior to submit its Sport Accord membership application, enacted the IeSF Anti- Doping Regulations for e-sports, and had it approved by World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). During the 4th AIMAG, doping control has been conducted with respect to the IeSF Anti-Doping Regulations, and Mr. Alex Lim, secretariat of IeSF, observed the process of the Doping Tests.
This event has signified to e-sports fans in the word that e-sport is not simple gaming activities but being positioned as one official sport discipline. Especially, Samsan World Gymnasium, the main stadium which held the opening and closing ceremonies, has been designated as the venue for e-sports tournaments. Moreover, the tickets for e-sports tournaments were all sold out every day on its pre-selling. Also, the broadcast of finals for Starcraft II and League of Legends recorded.
Also, officials of each National Olympic Committee attended to IeSF 2013 Asia Conference which was held during the same period as 4th AIMAG, and showed great interest and passion toward establishing national esports governing bodies as well as obtaining IeSF membership. IeSF is attempting to make esports to be selected as the official sport
discipline within diverse mega sports events through continuous cooperation with Olympic Councils such as OCA and EOC. Especially, IeSF is planning to endeavor for e-sports players to share same benefits which the athletes from general sports have been receiving.
As IeSF takes roles as the official international governing body for e-sports and get recognized by other sports governing bodies, the foundation for e-sports to be recognized as the official sport discipline is getting ready. Actually, it has been proved through this 4th AIMAG that many of IeSF’s member national associations have obtained the recognition of their National Olympic Committees. It is expected that the support toward e-sports from NOCs in many countries will increase as IeSF is entering the international sports society.
Mr. Won Suk Oh, the Secretary General of IeSF, stated, “We will, once again, put our best effort to organize e-sports tournament in 5th Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games 2017 which will be held in Turkmenistan, and already started communication with Turkmenistan NOC regarding preparation of infrastructure for esports. Also, we will expand this framework to other continents including Europe and America. We expect support and interest all of our fans and member national associations.”
