News & Media

Source: CCTV Sports

Shenzhen, China, 18 July 2023 – Recently, the 2023 Global Esports Leaders’ Summit and Tencent Esports Annual Conference were held on 14-15 July 2023 in Shenzhen, China. Sebastian Lau, Director General of the Asian Electronic Sports Federation (AESF), was interviewed and discussed various topics related to Esports' inclusion in the Asian Games.

Sebastian Lau, Director General of the Asian Electronic Sports Federation in his interview stated, “We are the AESF, the official governing body for Esports in Asia. Last week, I had the privilege of attending the General Assembly of the Olympic Council of Asia in Bangkok, Thailand. I was delighted to witness Esports being officially recognized as a medal event for the upcoming 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, following our country's successful hosting of the games in Hangzhou. We received tremendous joy and encouragement from the event”.

Can you tell us about the admission criteria for the seven Esports events in the Asian Games?

Sebastian Lau: Since the Asian Games in Jakarta, we have elevated Esports to the gold medal events at the Southeast Asian Games, including demonstration events at the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games. As the official governing body, we, alongside the manufacturers, experts, and national Esports associations, have established our own evaluation criteria for admission to these events. These criteria encompass popularity, recognition across the Asian region, the content's healthiness, and adherence to the Olympic values of "Faster, Higher, Stronger".

We collaborated with organizations like GRAC, which specializes in game classification and selection at the Asian and global levels. Therefore, we have our own selection standards. When we received applications from interested vendors for the Asian Games, I remember we had as many as 29 games titles. However, through our rating system and consultations with each vendor, we also sought the opinions of the host country. For example, in our country, China, we closely communicated with the Hangzhou Asian Games Organizing Committee and our national sports governing bodies, including the General Administration of Sport of China. We collected opinions from all parties, and the selected events are then submitted to the Olympic Council of Asia, which formulates regulations for each individual event. The submitted events that comply with these regulations will ultimately be confirmed for inclusion.

 Will there be any new Esports events added to the next Asian Games?

Sebastian Lau: We want to see the results of our collective efforts. After this Asian Games, we will evaluate and continuously improve within our own Esports event system in the Asian Electronic Sports Federation. We aim to ensure that the events selected for the next Asian Games have sustainability and adhere to the principles of Olympic values.

The successful hosting of the Road to Asian Games 2022 before the Asian Games revealed the potential and influence of global Esports events. In your opinion, what impact will global Esports events have on the development and popularization of Esports?

Sebastian Lau: I believe the impact will be profound and substantial. Just now, my colleagues and I reviewed the viewership of the first stage of the Road to Asian Games that was held in Macau last week. The overall online viewership reached an astonishing 650 million views. Athletes from 26 countries participated in this event representing their countries' honours battling in this fierce competition. This is what the Asian Esports Federation wants to achieve, and it is what we are currently working on.

In the global, and especially in the Asian Esports industry, how do you see the role of the Chinese Esports industry?

Sebastian Lau: In terms of market share, including the attention of Esports enthusiasts, manufacturer share, and support from local governments; China plays a significant role in the global Esports industry. Approximately 70% of the global Esports market is estimated to be in Asia, with China accounting for around 65%-70% of this share. Therefore, I believe that hosting the Asian Games in Hangzhou, China is not only the expectation of the public but also highly anticipated within the Esports industry.

We hope that through the efforts of the Asian Esports Federation; effective communication and cooperation with the Olympic Council of Asia, the cooperation of our national sports authorities, and the support of the Hangzhou Asian Games Organizing Committee, we can showcase Esports for the first time as a medal event, and demonstrate that the differences between Esports and traditional sports are minimal.

Although I, as the representative of the Asian Esports Federation, do not want to blindly predict who will win the most gold medals, however, based on our qualification matches and organized competitions, I believe our country has great potential. In such a crucial market, with a stage as excellent as the Asian Games, and with Esports as an official medal event for the first time, I have high expectations for our Chinese teams. Through this, Esports enthusiasts and the general public will see that they are not merely participating in commercial competitions but, like traditional athletes, they possess the spirit of athletes, inspiring everyone. Therefore, we greatly anticipate the Asian Games held in Hangzhou, China in September.