26-6-2023 (SINGAPORE) – The inaugural Olympic Esports Week concluded on Sunday (Jun 25) in Singapore, with local talent Nigel Tan making history as the host country’s first-ever Olympic Esports Series champion.
The 14-year-old emerged victorious in the live finals of the taekwondo event, defeating compatriot Natalie Tor 2-1 on the event’s final day.
Reflecting on his achievement, Tan expressed, “It was a challenging but rewarding fight. We trained hard for this, and it was quite exhausting, but overall it was a great battle. Natalie and Wu Jingyu, who secured third place, also performed exceptionally well. It feels fantastic to have an all-Singaporean final with tremendous support. I expected a large crowd, but it exceeded my expectations.”
The Olympic Esports Week was a collaborative effort between the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth, Sport Singapore, and the Singapore National Olympic Council (SNOC).
Held at the Suntec Singapore Convention & Exhibition Centre from Thursday to Sunday, the event featured competitions across 10 sports. A total of 131 players from over 60 countries, including 18 from Singapore, participated in the finals. Approximately 500,000 players took part in the qualification rounds.
Tan, who emerged victorious in the Virtual Taekwondo game, expressed his excitement at being the first Singaporean winner, stating, “It’s really cool. I’m quite exhausted from all the rounds. Natalie was extremely fast in the first round, but I noticed she became fatigued in the second and third rounds, allowing me to create distance and execute some kicks.”
He also mentioned the challenge of adjusting to the headset used in the competition, adding, “The headset adds some weight that you’re not accustomed to initially, so you need to account for that when performing spin-kicks and other movements.”
The event’s lineup, primarily consisting of virtual recreations of physical sports, raised eyebrows initially. Notably absent were popular video games like Valorant, Dota, and Mobile Legends, which are typically featured in major esports competitions worldwide. However, the event attracted around 20,000 spectators, leaving the local organizing committee spokesperson thrilled with the public’s overwhelming support.
“We witnessed an inspiring display of sportsmanship and innovative technology that embodies what this event celebrates—the convergence of traditional and virtual sports,” the spokesperson stated. “The success of the first edition of the Olympic Esports Week marks a significant milestone in our sporting history. We are excited about the possibilities and new frontiers that lie ahead in the esports arena.”
In addition to Nigel Tan’s victory, Kylian Drumont from France secured the motorsport event title through the Gran Turismo game.
The final day of the event featured exhibition matches in Arena Games Triathlon powered by Zwift (Duathlon format), Street Fighter 6, and eFIBA on NBA2K, further adding to the excitement of the Olympic Esports Week.
