MISMONG ang Asian Electronic Sports Federation (AESF) ang nangako sa Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) na kakausapin ang lahat ng miyembrong federation sa Southeast Asia upang maisama ang e-sports sa medal sport ng 31st Southeast Asian Games sa susunod na taon sa Vietnam.

Sa sulat ni AESF Director General Sebastian Lau nitong Miyerkoles kay National Electronic Sports Federation of the Philippines (NESFP) President Ramon Suzara, iginiit nito na malakas ang panawagan ng continental federation na maisama ang e-sports sa program ng Vietnam 31st SEA Games na nakatakda sa Nobyembre 21 hanggang Disyembre 2.

“I am writing this letter to seek your support in driving our Olympic collaboration agenda for the upcoming 2021 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Hanoi,” pahayag ni Lau. “We found out the news that Vietnam has not included esports as one of the official games, and currently it is in a process where the participating counties send an [appealing] letter to the hosting country Vietnam.”

Kamakailan, ipinahayag ng Vietnam organizers na 36 lamang mula sa naunang planong 46 sports ang aprubado na lalaruin sa biennila meet bilang bahagi ng pagtitipid dulot ng kakapusan ng budget dahil sa COVID-19 pandemic.

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Ang NESFP ang tanging e-sports association sa bansa na ‘recognized and certified’ ng AESF at Global Esports Federation.

Nauna rito, sinabi ni POC President Rep. Abraham Tolentino na pakikiusapan niya ang mga kapwa NOC Chief ng mga bansang kalahok na maisama ang ilang sports na nagbigay ng karangalan sa bansa sa nakalipas na SEA Games kabilang na ang e-sports.

“The AESF would like our federations in Southeast Asia to be united and support the Olympic collaboration agenda,” sambit ni Lau. “To further support our unification, we would like to encourage you to advocate the inclusion of e-sports as a medal event at the 2021 SEA Games in Hanoi.”

“This lobby from the AESF is a welcome development for e-sports,” pahayag naman ni Suzara. “All SEA Games countries have already adopted e-sports and they would want the sport to be played in Vietnam next year.”

Lumakas sa international sports community ang E-sports dahilan upang isama ito ng International Olympic Committee (IOC) bilang demonstration sport sa Paris Olympics sa 2024. Naisama ito ng Indonesia bilang demonstration sport sa 18th Asian Games noong 2018.

Sa 30th SEA Games nitong Disyembre sa Manila, nakamit ng Pinoy ang tatlo sa anim na gintong medalya na nakataya.

Ang AESF ay kinikilala ng Olympic Council of Asia na binubuo ng 45 member countries, kabilang ang 11 bansa sa SEA Games Federation.