TheOlympic Council of Asia (OCA) has announced a partnership with Chinese multinational conglomerate Tencent to help further promote the development of esports in Asia.
The partnership was announced during the Asian Electronic Sports Development Conference and MOU Signing Ceremony, which was held by OCA and the Asian Electronic Sports Federation (AESF).
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During the event, a partnership between AESF and Tencent Esports was also announced, as well as plans for the Road to Asian Games.
According to the release, Husain AI-Musallam, General Director of OCA, said the organisation is delighted to build a strategic cooperation with Tencent. He also expressed his hope that Tencent’s technology and innovation will help OCA and AESF bring in new possibilities for the esports industry in Asia.
The two companies will work together for the preparation and facilitation of esports in the upcoming 19th Asian Games Hangzhou 2022.
Steven Ma, Senior Vice President of Tencent, also highlighted that the company will continue to support the OCA in promoting the development of sports and esports in Asia. He also promised that Tencent would work with Asian countries to jointly create an esports culture.
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Kenneth Fok, President of Asian Electronic Sports Federation, teased that AESF and Tencent Esports are set to collaborate on a number of projects in the future. Meanwhile, Mars Hou, Vice President of Tencent Games, said that alongside AESF, both entities will team up to organise events and provide educational experiences to players.
In the release, it was highlighted that the Road to Asian Games will serve as a new platform for stakeholders to learn, share, and exchange information. Steve Kim, COO of AESF, and Sebastian Lau, General Director of AESF, emphasised the initiative as the start of creating a standardised system for esports events in Asia.
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Esports Insider says: These leaders of the Asian esports scene seem determined to further promote the development of the esports industry in the region. It will be interesting to see their plans come to fruition and the impact the partnerships could have on the local esports ecosystem.