The Esports Integrity Commission (ESIC) and the International Olympic Committee (IOC), and in particular the IOC’s Olympic Movement Unit for the Prevention of the Manipulation of Competitions (OM Unit PMC), announced a historic letter of collaboration which will see the organisations work together and exchange information, expertise and best practices to combat corruption and other misconduct in esports.

The IOC’s OM Unit PMC, known for its commitment to safeguarding sports from corruption, will work closely with ESIC, the global industry body recognised for its standards on integrity in esports, across several key areas. The collaboration will involve the sharing of information and insights relating to esports integrity, and the development and implementation of strategies, initiatives and programmes aimed at enhancing the integrity of esports. ESIC will also function as a specialist advisory body to the IOC and OM Unit PMC, providing guidance on esports related matters.

Friedrich Martens, Head of the OM Unit PMC at the IOC, said: “With numerous IFs organising esports competitions and the IOC planning to organise relevant competitions as well, we need to ensure that we have all the information and intelligence available to make sure that these competitions are free of manipulations or related breaches. Therefore we are very happy about this letter of collaboration formalising the long-standing communication between ESIC and the OM Unit PMC, particularly as esports is a developing area. Thus, we count on the support of ESIC for safeguarding the integrity and credibility of the esports competitions of the Olympic Movement, specifically to also further understand relevant risks and develop all right measures to mitigate them.”

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Stephen Hanna, Chief Executive Officer of ESIC, said: “This collaboration with the IOC and the OM Unit PMC denotes a significant milestone for the global esports industry and is a testament to the IOC’s engagement with the industry in the development of its esports strategy. We are looking forward to working with the IOC to support its ambitious esports initiatives. This collaboration further validates the critical nature of ESIC’s mission and provides the industry with further assurance that ESIC’s work is meeting the evolving challenges to competitive integrity in esports.”

The International Esports Federation (IESF) announced the beginning of the WEC24 Regional Qualifiers, starting on June 8. The champions from each nation have proven their talent and determination in the national qualifiers. Now, they will advance to the regional qualifiers stage, striving to earn their spot in the final event in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from November 11-19.

The IESF said: “We’re excited to share the full schedule for the regional qualifiers. This stage will showcase the skills and determination of the champions from each nation as they compete in CS2 Open, CS2 Women, MLBB Open, MLBB Women, PUBG MOBILE, and DOTA2. The national champions of the eFootball series have earned a direct spot for the World Esports Championship.

“Two regional qualifiers will transition from online to offline phases, while the other two will remain fully online. Chengdu, China, will be the host city for the Asian Regional Qualifiers, covering the regions of Asia and Oceania. Meanwhile, Casablanca, Morocco, will set the stage for the African Regional Qualifiers.

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“Stay tuned for upcoming updates and show your support by cheering on your national champions, favorite teams, and athletes. Let’s make these regional qualifiers an unforgettable chapter in the Road to Riyadh.”