Left to Right: Vice President of Vietnam Olympic Committee (VOC), Prof. Hoàng Vĩnh Giang; VOC President, Prof. Nguyễn Ngọc Thiện; Vice President of Vietnam Sports Administration, Dr. Tran Duc Phan.
 

The AESF is proud to announce that after months of lobbying and numerous discussions, esports is officially returning as a medal sporting event at the upcoming 2021 SEA Games in Vietnam. This announcement came alongside three other sporting categories, as confirmed by the Southeast Asian Games Federation Executive Committee held on the 20th of November. 
 
The return of esports to SEA Games follows the debut of the category in 2019. During the 2019 SEA Games in the Philippines, six games were contested at the Filoil Flying V Arena in Manila from December 5th-10thand welcomed 183 athletes representing the 9 countries. The titles contested were Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, Arena Of Valor, Dota 2, Tekken 7, Starcraft 2, and Hearthstone. 
  
2021 SEA Games hosts Vietnam who previously won three bronze medals in Manila; for Dota 2, Starcraft II, and Arena Of Valor; will now aim to improve on that tally, surely relying on home support to spur their contingent on.
 
In 2018, esports made its debut in a multi-discipline sporting event as it made its appearance at the 2018 Jakarta Asian Games, where it was added in as ‘Demonstration Sport’. Six different games were featured back then, including Arena of Valor, Clash Royale, Hearthstone, League Of Legends, Pro Evolution Soccer, and StarCraft II. 
 
Speaking on behalf of the AESF, President, Mr. Kenneth Fok said “I am ecstatic with this outcome as a result of our discussions with all major stakeholders, as well as the local organizing committee and especially the support from all our SEA Member Associations who have worked tirelessly with their NOC’s to push for this outcome. Everyone is totally on board with the inclusion of esports into the SEA Games, and I feel the continued presence in Vietnam will continue the momentum which we’ve been riding since 2019.”
 
"Originally, Esports was not included as one of the 36 disciplines as part of the event which was released by the host nation back in July. This prompted AESF to drum up support to lobby for the inclusion of esports through the submissions of requests from participating countries during the appealing process thereafter. Today, we can now proudly and officially celebrate the inclusion of esports at the 2021 SEA Games." he added. 
 
To show further commitment to the Games, AESF has also signed an MoU with Vietnam Recreation and eSports Association (VIRESA). This partnership will see AESF’s full collaboration and support of VIRESA, who have been engaged by the local organizing committee (LOC) to preside over the coordination and organization of the esports event at the SEA Games 2021. 
 
Mr. Nguyen Xuan Cuong, President of VIRESA, commented after the appointment of VIRESA as the esports competition organizer, “Esports has become one of the 40 sports in the 31st SEA Games thanks to the active support from AESF as well as the Southeast Asia Games Federation. Through this event, once again Electronic sports are recognized by the society as an official sport and equal to other traditional sports.” 
 

 Vietnam Olympic Committee President, Prof. Nguyễn Ngọc Thiện
 

The 2021 SEA Games will take place from 21 November 2021 to 2 December 2021 in Vietnam. Further details on the tournament format, game titles contested and national team selection guides will be released in due course.