The Global Esports Federation caps the year, looks ahead to a runway of Global Esports Games hosts for six years and beyond
Esports has reached another defining watershed moment as the Global Esports Federation’s inaugural Global Esports Games springs to life at Resorts World Sentosa in Singapore from 18 to 19 December. The Singapore 2021 Global Esports Games will officially kick off with the Opening Ceremony, featuring a dynamic blend of live and virtual experiences set to entertain esports fans across the metaverse. The Opening Ceremony will be officiated by Mr. Edwin Tong, Minister for Culture, Community and Youth, Singapore.
With participation from esports athletes and players from more than 50 nations and territories, and over 100 of them competing live in Singapore, the spotlight is now on the athletes, the embodiment of our youth, culture, and their passion.
“Esports has brought the world together despite the pandemic, and the fact that we have close to 40 teams who made it to the World Finals in Singapore is an unexpected achievement. We look forward to celebrating with our outstanding esports athletes on the world stage,” said Ms. Ng Shin Ein, Chair of the Singapore 2021 Global Esports Games Organizing Committee.
As one of Singapore’s leading creative directors in theatre and live events, and a member of the GEF Creative Group, Beatrice Chia-Richmond and her team at Presplay, in partnership with Anomalyst Studio, have put together an immersive aural and visual experience dubbed the Mixed Reality Interactive Virtual Performance. Fans and audiences will be treated to an augmented reality experience during parts of the ceremony, including the national anthem presentation, as well as during the key showcase of the event. The launch sequence of the ceremony highlights the core values that drive the GEF – equality, fair play, diversity, inclusion, and innovation.
The entertainment segment of the ceremony will feature Singaporean hip hop artist, ShiGGa Shay, performing his latest song uTopia reimagined: chasing on stage, as his larger-than-life virtual avatar unveils on-screen, mirroring his movements via a motion-capture suit.
Apart from the live events at Resorts World Sentosa, 400 fans will have the chance to view the Opening Ceremony and the Games at Orchard Cineleisure in Singapore.
“The Singapore 2021 Global Esports Games marks a historic first for the Global Esports Federation as our dynamic esports community convenes and competes in-person in our world headquarters, Singapore – where we launched exactly two years ago. It is an exciting new chapter in our #worldconnected journey. Following Singapore 2021, the Global Esports Games heads to Istanbul in 2022, and Riyadh in 2023. At its Board meeting held here in Singapore this week – the GEF will elect a further cohort of host countries – firmly establishing the flagship event on the annual calendar and the global stage,” expressed Paul J. Foster, CEO of the GEF.
Meanwhile, the GEF further deepens its engagement with fans across the metaverse. In a tangible demonstration of its deep commitment to the esports community, Flare, GEF’s Global Partner for Blockchain systems, is making a grant of their Songbird Tokens ($SGB) to every athlete and team heading to Singapore and helping the global broadcast reach the entire world. In parallel to multi-title esports competition, the GEG features GEFcon – the GEF's global convention of thought leaders and idea creators who gathered virtually on 16 December to explore key topics and industry trends such as fintech’s growing role in esports, the metaverse, blockchain technologies, the future of entertainment, to brands moving from sponsorship to partnership. The GEFestival, meanwhile, brings together esports and gaming, music, art, and technology through a series of community esports competitions and the premiere of a specially curated documentary and music and art showcases that celebrate esports and youth culture. The three-week extravaganza culminates in a finale at Zouk Singapore on 18 December, where the highlights of the tournaments will be celebrated amidst the electrifying atmosphere as a wrap-up to the very first Global Esports Games.
Beyond the GEG, the organizing committee has integrated youth engagement - empowering the youth and the gaming community at large, through initiatives such as GEFestival and the Esports Youth Program.
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