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Global Esports Federation marked third anniversary at Istanbul 2022 Global Esports Games

GEF Board appointed Chairs for Coordination Commissions for future events, signed Strategic Framework Agreements driving esports growth in key communities


L-R: Paul J. Foster, CEO; Chris Chan, President; and Mark Chay, Executive Director at the GEF third annual General Assembly with Member Federations and partners in Istanbul.

The Global Esports Federation celebrated its third anniversary at the Istanbul 2022 Global Esports Games, held from December 15-17, 2022, at the Hilton Istanbul Bomonti Hotel and Conference Center. The GEF Board convened for its eighth Board Meeting and hosted the third annual General Assembly with Member Federations and partners in attendance in a hybrid mode, both in Istanbul and virtually.


“The meetings held during the Istanbul 2022 Global Esports Games will help pave the way for the future of esports, both for the GEF community and the wider esports industry. The appointments, as well as the agreements, and frameworks we established are exciting steps forward.”
~ Chris Chan, President of the GEF

Highlights of the partnership agreements to accelerate and grow esports worldwide:

  1. 10-year Strategic Framework Agreement with the Turkish Esports Federation (TESFED) to accelerate the development of esports in Türkiye.

  2. Strategic Framework Agreement with the Brazilian Confederation of Games and Esports (CBGE) to develop esports in the South American powerhouse, including staging the Global Esports Tour in 2023, 2024, and 2025.

  3. New Global Supporter, VOV – part of Savvy Games Group, was announced – in support of community gaming and health and wellness initiatives, globally.

In addition, the GEF welcomed the delegation from the European Olympic Committees including Andrzej Krasnicki, President of the Polish Olympic Committee, and Mihai Covaliu, President of the Romanian Olympic and Sports Committee. The GEF and the EOC delegation held wide-ranging detailed discussions in preparation for the first European Games Esports Championships 2023 (#EGE23) in Poland this year.


President of the Polish Olympic Committee, Andrzej Kraśnicki (second from right); and Olympian and Director of the Polish Olympic Committee, Elżbieta Urbańczyk-Baumann (far right); received detailed briefings and attended observer sessions with newly appointed Chair and Vice Chair of the European Games Esports Championships – Aurelia Ruetsch (second from left) and Ali Kiremitcioglu (left), and GEF CEO, Paul J. Foster.

The GEF also welcomed observer delegations from the Panam Sports Organization, the Riyadh 2023 Global Esports Games Organizing Committees, Global Partners, Technology sectors, and the associated industries.


Global Esports Games and beyond

The GEF Board approved the establishment of Coordination Commissions for future events and the appointment of Chairs and Vice Chairs.


GEF Vice President, HRH Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Sultan Al Saud (Saudi Arabia) will lead the GEF Coordination Commission for the Global Esports Games in two of the world’s leading esports powerhouses – Saudi Arabia in 2023 and China in 2024 – with the support of Vice Chairs, veteran sports administrators, Lisa Hindson (Australia) and Vinod Kumar Tiwari (India).


GEF Board Member, Aurelia Ruetsch (France) and Vice President of the Turkish National Olympic Committee, Ali Kiremitcioglu (Türkiye), were appointed as Chair and Vice Chair of the Coordination Commission for the European Games Esports Championships 2023.


GEF Board Member, Dr Melita N. Moore (USA) and President of the Brazilian Confederation of Games and Esports, Paulo Ribas (Brazil) were appointed as Chair and Vice Chair of the Coordination Commission for the Panam Esports Championships 2023.


In addition, the GEF Board approved the candidature process for the hosting of the 2027 and 2028 Global Esports Games. Submission for Expression of Interest from potential host cities will commence in the first quarter of 2023, with selection slated for September 2023.


With Education, Culture and Youth at the core of GEFs values, the third General Assembly was the perfect setting to announce the Worldwide Launch of the Global Esports Academy.

“The creation of the Global Esports Academy is particularly exciting, and it is fantastic to start the process for further GEG events, moving towards 2028."
~ HRH Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Sultan al Saud

Bringing knowledge and expertise from the #GEG22, Alper Afsin Özdemir, President of Turkish Esports Federation (TESFED), joins the GEF Board as a Senior Advisor to the GEF Board through 2023.


GEF and UNESCO strengthened their collaboration and relationship

The GEF and UNESCO committed to strengthening their collaboration and relationship even further with esports as a catalyst to drive health, education, and equality outcomes.


Within this framework, UNESCO and GEF explored various opportunities to fully leverage the educational and societal potential of esports to connect billions of people around the world, advance sport and education policies, and promote the vast opportunities of esports, as also reflected through the GEF #elevate2030 agenda and delivered through Global Esports Academy.


Gabriela Ramos, UNESCO’s Assistant Director-General for Social and Human Sciences, offered welcome remarks and support during the celebrations of the Opening Ceremony of the Istanbul 2022 Global Esports Games.

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