Singapore ready to host inaugural Olympic Esports Week 2023 

SINGAPORE – Singapore’s line-up at the very first in-person finals of the Olympic Esports Series 2023 is set, following the confirmation of three more players on Sunday (18 June). With the unveiling of Woonie Chong (Baseball), 1998 Asian Games champion Colin Ng (Sailing) and Andrew Arriola (Tennis), Singapore will be represented by 17 players across nine virtual sports. The list of Olympic Esports Series players from Singapore can be found in Annex A of the attached release. 

The live finals of the Olympic Esports Series is one of the highlights of the inaugural Olympic Esports Week (OEW), which will be taking place at the Suntec Singapore Convention & Exhibition Centre from 22 to 25 June 2023. More than 110 players from around the world will compete in 10 sports for the chance to be crowned Olympic Esports Series winners in their sports. An overview of the Olympic Esports Series 2023 schedule is as follows.

23 June

24 June

25 June

Finalists for the Olympic Esports Series were selected following a rigorous process led by the respective game publishers, International Federations, and local National Sports Associations. 

Colin Ng, a veteran sailor with multiple SEA Games medals and an Asian Games title, is relishing the opportunity to represent Singapore again in a different discipline. The 44-year-old, who won gold at the 1993 and 2015 SEA Games in Singapore, said: “I’m very proud and excited to compete in the finals of the Olympic Esports Series 2023. Having represented Singapore at the Asian Games and the SEA Games, competing on home soil is always extra special.

The Olympic Esports Week is a major sporting milestone for Singapore and it is a privilege to be a part of this. I’m looking forward to the challenge of competing in a different sailing format against the world’s best. It will definitely not be easy but I am up for the challenge. It will also be wonderful to be competing in front of a home crowd again – a feeling that  never gets old and I hope my fellow Singaporeans will enjoy the competition and come support Team Singapore!” 

Local Organising Committee Co-chair, Mark Chay, said: “We are days away from the inaugural Olympic Esports Week, and it is set to be the world’s largest gathering of virtual sports. Not only do we have 10 exciting live finals where the first Olympic Esports Series winners will be crowned, we also have several exhibition matches taking place throughout the week, with popular titles like Street Fighter, Rocket League and NBA2K. Those eager to be part of the action or who are feeling inspired by the exciting esports battles can also try the games for themselves at the Free-To-Play zone where more than 15 virtual games will be featured. We look forward to welcoming athletes, officials, industry leaders and spectators to the very first Olympic Esports Week.”

In addition to the thrilling battles at the Olympic Esports Series finals, visitors to the Olympic Esports Week can also be entertained by the exhibition matches on display. Top players will face off against each other in show matches, with popular titles including Rocket League, Street Fighter 6 and eFIBA on NBA2K23. The schedule for the exhibition matches at the Olympic Esports Week is available at https://olympics.com/en/esports/olympic-esports-week/exhibitions.   

Members of the public who want to challenge themselves and test their skills can enjoy the games for themselves at the Free To Play Zone. With games such as Just Dance, Gran Turismo and Zwift, spectators can step into the shoes of an Olympic Esports Series athlete as they try out the games for themselves. The full line-up of games at the Olympic Esports Week Free To Play Zone is available at  https://olympics.com/en/esports/olympic-esports-week/free-to-play.

Off the screens, another highlight is the Olympic Esports Week Forum on 22 June, which aims to provide a space for discussion and expertise to foster knowledge and create awareness of the overall between the sports and esports ecosystems. Minister of State for Culture, Community and Youth & Trade and Industry Alvin Tan will deliver an opening speech at the forum, where he will also join a panel discussion on Singapore’s position as a future hub in the global esports landscape. Other panel discussions at the forum will touch on fair play across sports and esports, and players’ careers beyond the playing field. The full programme for the Education Forum is available in Annex B.

Tickets to the Olympic Esports Week are available for purchase at https://www.sistic.com.sg/events/olympics0623 with prices starting from S$10 per day. Three-day passes are available from S$20, ensuring that more can witness the making of history and enjoy the epic competitions between some of the world’s best players. Day passes for families (two adults and two students) are also available from S$25. Full event agenda for the Olympic Esports Week can be found at the ticketing website. In recognition of Visa’s long-standing partnership with the Olympic and Paralympic Games, Visa is the official and preferred way to pay for Olympic Esports Week tickets.

The first Olympic Esports Week has also received strong support from local companies. Singtel, the official network connectivity provider, will enable competitors to play seamlessly through its high-speed broadband, and facilitate engagement with fans through its fastest 5G network which powers the roving community truck. Singapore Airlines is proud to be the official airline partner for the inaugural Olympic Esports Week in Singapore.