The fact that Chinese will host the World Esports Championship (WEC) Asia Esports Championship (AEC) for the first time signifies the escalating prominence and influence of China in the global esports arena.

It is due to China's advanced development level in the esports industry and its increasing openness to international collaboration that this event, slated possibly for Chengdu in September, has become possible. This also marks an increasing popularity and maturity of esports in the Chinese market, and will also inject new vitality into the global development of esports.

Tian Lin, representative and liaison of IESF China, said: "As the flagship event of IESF, AEC will be held in the Chinese mainland for the first time, which is an opportunity of great significance for us. It marks the increasing status and influence of China in the international electronic sports arena. It can be said that the development level and opening-up attitude of China's electronic sports industry today make it possible to hold this event."

Boban Totovski, secretary-general of IESF, echoes: "We have really high expectations for the first event in the Chinese mainland, knowing that from the time when Chengdu hosted the World Cyber Games (WCG) in 2023. The event in Chengdu will fully motivate esports in China, resulting in more and more international events and showcases. The capacity and potential when China organize esports events."

Boban Totovski, secretary-general of IESF. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

As an authoritative organization in the field of global esports, IESF has not only been recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) but also committed to promoting the regularization and internationalization of esports on a global scale. As the international organization with the largest influence, the most members, and the longest history in the field of global esports, IESF plays a decisive role in promoting the global popularity and development of esports.

As a leader in the field of global esports, IESF actively organizes and holds various esports competitions and events, providing a stage for players from various countries and regions to show their talents. These competitions not only promote the exchanges between players from different countries and regions but also promote the continuous innovation and development of esports technology. At the same time, IESF is also committed to developing international standards and rules for esports to ensure a fair, just and standardized competition.

It is worth mentioning that IESF has been actively promoting the popularity of esports on a global scale. Through cooperation with educational institutions and community organizations, IESF has carried out a series of esports education and training programs, cultivating a large number of esports talents. These talents have not only achieved remarkable results in their professional fields but also played a positive role in promoting the popularity and development of esports.

As a key project of IESF, AEC is held in the Chinese mainland for the first time, which not only marks the first official debut of the international organization in China but also kicks off the "Esports Olympics" organized by the International Olympic Committee in 2025-2026. This event will further promote the development of esports on a global scale and inject new vitality into China's esports industry.

As the official flagship event of IESF, WEC not only represents the highest level of international esports but also a stage for esports players from all countries and regions to show their strength and compete for honor. Since the first competition in 2005, WEC has gone through 16 years, with footprints in more than 10 countries and regions around the world.

In the upcoming AEC, 42 Asian countries and regions have confirmed their participation, covering almost the entire Asia and Oceania region. This figure not only sets a new record for the regional event of WEC but also fully demonstrates the booming development of esports in Asia and Oceania.

AEC included six competitive events, including Dota2, PUBG Mobile, CS2, CS2 Women's, MLBB and MLBB Women's. These events covered different types of esports, including traditional MOBA games Dota2 and MLBB, as well as the rapidly rising mobile esports game PUBG Mobile. At the same time, the competition also designed a women's event, providing a stage for female esports players to show their talents.

It is worth mentioning that the World Esports Industry Development Conference (WEDC) was held simultaneously with the event. The Conference was organized by IESF and China National Cyber Games, aiming to promote the global development of the esports industry by building an international esports exchange and cooperation platform.

Tian Lin said: "Through the World Esports Industry Development Conference (WEDC), we are looking forward to promoting the integration and win-win of the global esports industry by attracting international esports organizations, industry leaders, enterprises and professionals to China for exchanges and cooperation.

In October 2023, during the 141st plenary session of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) held in Mumbai, India, IOC president Thomas Bach officially announced that he had instructed the newly established IOC Esports Committee to study the creation of an Esports Olympic Games. This statement marks that esports is gradually moving to the center of the international sports arena.

In recent years, the esports industry has made remarkable progress and development worldwide. From its inclusion as an official event in the Hangzhou Asian Games to the planned Esports Olympic Games, a series of developments show that the goal of esports officially entering the Olympic Games is within reach.

The rapid rise of the esports industry and its impact on the Olympic Games has also been strongly supported by international esports organizations. In December 2023, the International Esports Federation (IESF) and the Global Esports Federation (GEF) signed a memorandum of understanding in Riyadh. According to the memorandum, the two sides will work together to promote the progress of the global esports ecosystem and provide more new opportunities for the esports industry, which will lay a solid foundation for the further development of esports on the international stage.