(Gray News) – The International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced on November 16th that the inaugural Olympic Esports Week will be in Singapore from 22 to 25 June 2023. The event is in partnership with the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth, Sport Singapore, and the Singapore National Olympic Committee (SNOC).

Olympic Esports Week aims to showcase the latest technologies in virtual sports. These virtual sports vary from cycling, which requires rigorous physical input on a stationary bike, to sailing, which is done online through a sailing simulator.

Show matches during the week will demonstrate how the competitions in each sport work. Education sessions and panel discussions will also further inform those attending the event.

IOC President Thomas Bach voiced strong support for the event: “The first Olympic Esports Week marks an important milestone in our ambition to support the growth of virtual sports within the Olympic Movement. We believe the exciting new format of our virtual sports competition, with live finals to be staged for the first time, is an opportunity to collaborate further with esports players and to create new opportunities for players and fans alike.”

In-person live finals of the Olympic Esports Series, “a global virtual and simulated sports competition” created jointly with the International Federations (IFs), are set to be the event’s focal point.

The Olympic Virtual Series…