Everything you need to know about Olympic Esports Week 2023
The inaugural Olympic Esports Week (OEW) takes place in Singapore from 22–25 June 2023. Wonder what it's all about? Here's what you need to know about the OEW.
Last November, the International Olympic Committee announced that Singapore would host the first Olympic Esports Week (OEW) in June 2023.
The OEW is designed to support the development of esports within the Olympic Movement and to engage with the competitive gaming community.
It is not the first time Singapore has led the way hosting a new IOC event, having also welcomed the inaugural Youth Olympic Games Singapore 2010.
So what should you know about the OEW and how can you follow it?
What will the Olympic Esports Week 2023 feature?
The highlight of the OEW is the Olympic Esports Series finals, the culmination to this year's Olympic Esports Series.
Ten games were chosen by international federations to represent their sport in the OES. Players have been going through qualification events in the various games since March.
The Olympic Esports finalists will duke it out for the title of Olympic Esports Series Winners – or, in chess, the inaugural Olympic Esports Series chess master – in Singapore.
Aside from the finals in the 10 games, the OEW will also showcase the best of virtual sports, including exhibiting the latest innovations, panel discussions, education sessions and exhibition matches in other games.
To sum it up – some of the very best players in the world will be in Singapore as the inaugural Olympic Esports Series winners are crowned. And there will be a free-to-play zone for attendees to try their hand, too.
When and where is the Olympic Esports Week 2023 taking place?
The OEW 2023 is a four-day event and festival, showcasing the best of virtual sports.
This inaugural event – which was created by the IOC in association with Singapore's Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth, Sport Singapore, and the Singapore National Olympic Council – will run from 22 to 25 June 2023 at the Suntec Conference and Exhibition Centre.
What games will be played during the Olympic Esports Week?
The 10 official sports and games in the Olympic Esports Series are: Tic Tac Bow (archery), WBSC eBASEBALL™: POWER PROS (baseball), Chess.com (chess), Zwift (cycling), Just Dance (dance), Gran Turismo (motorsport), Virtual Regatta (sailing), Fortnite (shooting), Virtual Taekwondo (taekwondo), and Tennis Clash (tennis).
The Olympic Esports Series 2023 is a global virtual and simulated sports competition, created by the IOC, and in collaboration with International Federations (IFs) and game publishers.
There will also be exhibitions in other games at the OEW.
What exhibition show matches will there be at the Olympic Esports Week 2023, and in what games?
Show matches will take place in Rocket League, Virtual Table Tennis, Arena Games Triathlon, Street Fighter 6, and NBA2K23.
Here is the schedule of exhibition events (times listed in Singapore Standard Time, UTC +8 hours):
23 June
- 1530–1715: Rocket League
24 June
- 1400–1500: Virtual Table Tennis with VR Eleven
25 June
- 1000–1145: Arena Games Triathlon (duathlon format)
- 1345–1515: Street Fighter 6
- 1745–1915: eFIBA exhibition on NBA2K23
How can I watch the action in Singapore?
If you are in Singapore, tickets are on sale for the Olympic Esports Week! Tickets are available for the three days of Olympic Esports Series finals, from 23–25 June.
You can get your tickets from Sistic for the Olympic Esports Week. General admission tickets start at $10 Singapore dollars (roughly $7.50 USD) per day, with three-day passes beginning at S$20.
Your ticket will entitle you to watch all the finals on the day(s) your ticket is valid, as well as the exhibition matches on that day, as well as access to the free-to-play zone.
What if I’m not in Singapore? How can I follow the OEW?
All the thrilling finals action will be streamed globally on Olympics.com and Olympics social channels. And you can also read all our coverage, from reports on the finals to features surrounding each of the games, on Olympics.com.
What is the schedule of finals at the Olympic Esports Week 2023?
The Olympic Esports Week Forum, featuring various speakers, will take place on 22 June, before an Opening Ceremony later that evening at the Suntec Conference and Exhibition Centre.
Preliminary rounds will take place in four of the games featured in the Olympic Esports Series. These will not be streamed live, and will take place away from the main stages. The schedule for these is as follows (times listed in Singapore Standard Time, UTC +8 hours):
23 June
- 1200–1900: WBSC eBASEBALL™: POWER PROS (baseball) – discover the finalists
- 1500–2100: Chess.com (chess)
- 1600–1800: Virtual Taekwondo (taekwondo)
24 June
- 1000–1200: Gran Turismo (motorsport) session 1
- 1300–1500: Gran Turismo (motorsport) session 2
Olympic Esports Finals will take place from 23–25 June as follows:
23 June
- 1100–1300: Zwift (cycling)
- 1315–1515: Tic Tac Bow (archery)
- 1730–1930: Virtual Regatta (sailing)
- 1945–2145: Just Dance (dance) – discover the finalists
24 June
- 1145–1345: WBSC eBASEBALL™: POWER PROS (baseball)
- 1515–1715: Chess.com (chess)
- 1730–1930: Tennis Clash (tennis)
- 1945–2145: ISSF Challenge featuring Fortnite (shooting)
25 June
- 1200–1330: Gran Turismo (motorsport)
- 1530–1730: Virtual Taekwondo (taekwondo)