Author: Belgian e-Sports Federation, Steven Leunens
Belgian eSports has had a difficult time getting any government involvement but finally a new project has been started that will change the face of eSports in Belgium forever. Gamebox is a non-profit organization founded by some BESF members and friends with the sole purpose of creating a base for further development of eSports in Belgium. The entire Belgian federation is in the process of becoming part of this new umbrella organization that will have three different aspects to it.
First of all the BESF organization will become a part of the Gamebox project and will act under the same umbrella. It will attempt to standardize competitive gaming in Belgium and will continue to organize national qualifiers for major tournaments such as the IeSF Grand Final.
Secondly, we will see a similar project to Denmark starting where Gamebox has received an offline location from the City of Antwerp in which it will host a clubhouse. This clubhouse will be a social meeting place for youngsters who share the same passion: gaming. It will host state of the art gaming equipment and the latest games through various partnerships with publishers and hardware manufacturers.
Thirdly the project will also attempt to be a knowledge center for everyone involved in gaming in Belgium. It will attempt to answer some questions people may have and it will gather information on gaming in Belgium in all its aspects. Not only will the project look at the positive aspects of gaming, more negative items will also be considered and discussed.
This entire project will receive the financial support of the City of Antwerp and the federal government and with some grants already accepted, there is the opportunity for even more subsidized projects in year 2 of this project. The government is finally listening to gamers and although starting out small, this project will continue to grow and could establish gaming as an integral part of any federal or local government plans.
Clubhouse location
Oudaan 14 2000 Antwerp Belgium
Official start of the project: May 2012
