Inaugural Olympic Virtual Series concludes successfully

The highly anticipated new series kicked off on 13 May with staggered competition starts that gave each sport time in the spotlight. The OVS concluded on 23 June, Olympic Day, with all of the event finals broadcast throughout the day, including baseball, sailing, rowing, cycling and motor sport events.

All the media assets can be found here.

“With this inaugural Olympic Virtual Series, the IOC has taken an important and successful first step into the virtual sports space,” said IOC Sports Director Kit McConnell.

The winners of the OVS baseball, motor sport and sailing events received an Olympic Virtual Series plaque (winner, 1st runner-up and 2nd runner-up). The winner (first place only) of each of the competitive events will also have the opportunity to hold the Olympic Virtual Series trophy at a special award ceremony to be organised later in 2021, subject to travel possibilities during this global pandemic.

Olympic Virtual Series results

Baseball event

Watch the baseball event highlights here

Right from the start of the OVS, players from Japan, South Korea and Chinese Taipei battled for a chance to be part of the Tournament and/or Home Run Derby finals, played on eBASEBALL POWERFUL PRO BASEBALL 2020 under the guidance of the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC).

• Home Run Derby (Nintendo Switch) Watch replay here

• Winner: Ryohei “Pome” Osaka

• 1st Runner-up: Yusuke “CHAPIO” Tominaga

• 2nd Runner-up: ／Hiroki “Taijyu” Horiike

• Tournament Finals (PlayStation 4) Watch replay here

• Winner: Syoma “SHORA” Mori

• 1st Runner-up: Yoshinori “TAKU” Kato

• 2nd Runner-up: Yosuke “MesiHARA” Fujomoto

Motor Sport event

Watch motor sport event highlights here

Played out on Gran Turismo^TM Sport under the auspices of the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), the OVS motor sport event consisted of an 11-day global qualifier, where players battled to set the fastest lap in a time trial to win a chance to represent their country in the World Finals.

• Finals Watch replay here

• Winner: Valerio Gallo, Italy — Watch Gallo here

• 1st Runner-up: Mikail Hizal, Germany

• 2nd Runner-up: Baptiste Beauvois, France

Sailing event

Watch sailing event highlights here

Played on Virtual Regatta in participation with World Sailing, the Inshore Series featured three action-packed events, each of which crowned a winner.

• Finals — Inshore Series

• Nacra 17: 23 June Watch replay here

• Winner: Arthur Farley (GBR)

• 1st Runner-up: Bart Lambriex (NED)

• 2nd Runner-Up: Joan Cardona (ESP)

• ILCA Dinghy: 25 May

• Winner: Kaan Mazlumca (TUR) — Watch Mazlumca here

• 1st Runner-up: Filippo Lanfranchi (ITA)

• 2nd Runner-up: Gaéten de Kat (FRA)

• 49er: 6 June Watch replay here

• Winner: Lukas Mohr (DEN) — Watch Mohr here

• 1st Runner-up: Arthur Farley (GBR)

• 2nd Runner-up: Tangi Le Golf (FRA)

Beginning on 28 May, the Offshore Event focused on tactics, strategy and judgment. Players joined the “Rio to Tokyo Race”, which took 25-30 days to complete and ended on 23 June. All eSailers had the opportunity to choose from among four sailing routes to complete the race.

• Rio to Tokyo race - Offshore event Watch highlights here

• Winner:Erik Danielsson (SWE)

• 1stRunner-up:Christopher Powers (USA) — Watch Powers here

• 2ndRunner-up:Luiz Carlos Bonetti (BRA)

Rowing event

Watch rowing event highlights here

Row for a Cause Winner — 23 June Watch replay here

Starting on 31 May, participants took part in the Rio to Tokyo Rowing Event while simultaneously supporting three of the Olympic Refuge Foundation programmes, which help champion the Foundation’s programme that supports young people affected by displacement through sport.

• The winning charity was from Colombia — with the goal of protecting young refugees and increasing their access to safe sport through structured sports activities.

Cycling event

Watch cycling event highlights here

Using Zwift, and under the guidance of the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), participants all over the globe were able to be part of the OVS Cycling Event.

• Ultimate Chase Race — 18 June Watch replay here

• The Chase Race was a bike race with a twist. Competitors were gridded based on their cycling ability, and the riders set off at different intervals, with the strongest riders starting last. Their aim — to chase everyone down before the finish line.

• Those taking part included Chris Hoy, Alberto Contador, Fabian Cancellara, Kristin Armstrong, Sarah Storey and Mel C (Sporty Spice).

• 24-Hour Group Ride — 23 June, Olympic Day Watch replay here

• The final Group Ride took place over a 24-hour period, with a different person leading the ride each hour, including UCI President David Lappartient, Michael Rogers, Georgia Simmerling, Anna van der Breggen, Alberto Contador, Shanaze Reade, Chris Hoy, Fabian Cancellara and Kristin Armstrong.

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For your ongoing Olympic coverage, please note:

Interviews

Interviews are available with the IOC Leadership, Sports Federations’ Leadership, and select participants from each OVS event, including:

• Certain OVS event winners
• World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) — eBaseball Powerful Pro Baseball 2020, Konami
• Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) — Zwift, Zwift Inc.
• World Rowing 
• World Sailing — Virtual Regatta, Virtual Regatta SAS
• Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) — Gran Turismo, Polyphony Digital

Media assets

• All OVS videos, photos and logos are available here.

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Media contacts:

Melissa A.E. Sanders, Tadpole Communications
+1.404.909.6726 | melissa@tadpolecomm.net | press@dreamhacksportsgames.com

David Gardner, Tadpole Communications
+1.310.291.1156 | david@tadpolecomm.net | press@dreamhacksportsgames.com

IOC Media Relations Team:
+41 21 621 6000 | pressoffice@olympic.org