IWGA to launch eGaming project at 2022 World Games

ISLAMABAD, Apr 26 (APP): The International World Games Association (IWGA) will launch its eGaming project at the 2022 World Games in Birmingham, Alabama USA.
Hagen Bossdorf, the IWGA TV and Marketing Coordinator, said it was a way to promote various sports.
“The IWGA sees eGaming as a way to promote various sports of the World Games. We strive to reach a younger target audience. Based on this, the IWGA Board has approved our eGaming strategy through to 2025,” the IWGA quoted Bossdorf as saying on its official website.
He said eGaming was the digital, virtual version of a sport as known from FIFA or the NBA. “This is the area we want to promote and develop for The World Games. We are not focusing on eSports and its successful games. That is a different area and not one we want to promote.”
He said the core of the World Games Plaza in Birmingham, Alabama was the Sports Garden, where different sports could showcase themselves. “Fans and visitors will be able to try the sports out for themselves there. In this area there will be an eGaming pavilion, where we will present virtual versions of archery, racquetball and softball,” he added.
According to Bossdorf the three federations WA Archery, WBCS Softball/Baseball and IRF Racquetball are able to offer digital versions of their sports.
“So in the short time available, it is possible to start the IWGA eGaming project with these three examples.”
He said visitors could try these three sports in eGaming themselves. “We will also create a focus day with each of the international federations, where the World Games winners and medalists will also compete in virtual Gaming.
“We plan to crown the first virtual winner of the World Games in eRacquetball. The tournament will start online and worldwide, and will end during the World Games. The other two sports will be less competitive. As mentioned, it’s about promoting our sports,” he added.
Bossdorf said eGaming could not and should not replace real sport. “But it is a way to introduce younger people to new sports through gaming, to promote the World Games sports programme in advance of the event, and to connect with fans.”
He said every sports federation was dealing with the topic of eGaming, but the possibilities of visualization and digitization differed between sports. “The IOC and its federations are also pursuing a strategy of promoting eSports to some extent, but are focusing on the virtual variants of Olympic sports,” he added.
He said the IWGA was planning to develop and offer eGaming for fans and athletes in up to ten sports of the World Games during TWG 2025 in Chengdu, China.
“We are currently talking to developers and manufacturers, and have polled the interest of IWGA member federations.
“I think that the IWGA as an umbrella organisation can help its member federations a lot, because these sports would not be able to handle the development costs on their own. So we can share the burden of the investment – and then reap the success together,” he added.

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