[image credit : Global Esports Federation]
Yesterday saw the launch of the Global Esports Federation (GEF), backed by Tencent Esports.
Headquartered in Singapore, the federation is the first body of its kind directly backed by a game publisher. GEF’s president is secretary-general of Singapore’s National Olympic Council, Chris Chan, and, according to Chinese publication People Esports, the federation aims to hold an international tournament at the start of next year.
Also involved with GEF are former secretary-general of the Chinese Olympic Committee and honorary life vice-president of the Olympic Council of Asia, Wei Jizhong; former Olympian and founder of NGU consultants, Charmaine Crooks; and vice-president of Tencent Holdings and CEO of Tencent Pictures, Cheng Wu.
The GEF board also includes CEO of OverActive Media and former CEO of the Canadian Olympic Committee, Chris Overholt; CEO of the British Esports Association, Chester King; Chief Business Officer of Italian football club AC Milan, Lorenzo Giorgetti; and Chief Investment Officer of Calypso Investment and former Chief Business Officer of British Petroleum, Adrian Lismore.
Illustrating the extent of its ambitions, in an announcement at its launch conference the GEF claimed it wanted to be the “voice and authority for the worldwide esports movement.”
