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The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) and the Global Esports Federation (GEF) have announced that esports will be showcased as a pilot event alongside this summer’s 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. The event will be titled the Commonwealth Esports Championships and will be hosted at the International Convention Center in Birmingham between August 6th and 7th.
According to the BBC, the Commonwealth Esports Championships is the direct result of the partnership between CGF and GEF that was announced in 2020. However, the event will be a pilot event and will have separate branding, medals and organization.
The Commonwealth Esports Championships was sanctioned by the CGF Executive Board to be held at the same time as the 2022 Commonwealth Games whilst being independent of Birmingham 2022 and its sports programme. The Commonwealth Esports Championships will have separate branding, medals, organization, and governance, led by the GEF and its community of partners."Global Esports Federation
Commonwealth Esports Championships to feature multi-genre global titles
The event will initially be independent of the Commonwealth Games but the organizers expressed hope that it could turn into a medal event in the next four years’ time.
The event will feature esports athletes from across the Commonwealth and the GEF added, “ Renowned multi-genre global titles are in the final stages of confirmation and will be announced shortly.”
The Daily Mail has reported that Dota 2 might be one of the three titles to be featured at this event.
Ahead of the Commonwealth Esports Championship, the GEF announced that a global convention of thought leaders and idea creators titled “The Commonwealth Esports Forum” will be held at the same venue on 5th August.
According to a release, the partnership will initially focus on analyzing the status of esports in the Commonwealth through a value-based Commonwealth Esports strategy, exploring and developing athlete-centered, sport-focused initiatives to promote values in esports, and exploring the development of sustainable esports properties.
According to the Global Esports Federation, CGF President Dame Louise Martin said, “I am delighted that we are announcing the first Commonwealth Esports Championships and Commonwealth Esports Forum to take place in Birmingham this summer. Esports is continuing to grow dramatically in terms of popularity and participation, particularly amongst young people, and we are continuing to look at ways to explore how it can align with the Commonwealth Sports Movement.”
According to a report by the BBC, CGF’s new chief executive Katie Sadlier had stated that she was “open-minded about the inclusion of esports in the event,” earlier in December.
The popularity of esports continues to grow with traditional sporting events including it in their portfolio. Esports is also set to make its debut in the Asian Games as a medal event later this year. The SEA Games 2019 also successfully hosted several competitions in esports titles as medaled events.
