EN DE CN BR ES RU
Image
Icon

Esports Now Recognised as an Official Sport in Ukraine

ports is now recognised as an official sport in the Ukraine, following an announcement from the Commission for the... Pablo | 14. September 2020

ports is now recognised as an official sport in the Ukraine, following an announcement from the Commission for the Recognition of Sport. Both the Ukrainian Esports Federation (UESF) and Ukrainian Professional Cybersport Association (UPEA) had been pushing for this outcome, with the relevant application having been in the pipeline for some time.

How the Announcement Came About

The UESF had actually been working on such an announcement for over a year, having been working alongside the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the International Esports Federation (IESF) and regional offices. The UESF itself is a member of the IESF, having been established back in 2018 in an attempt to lobby Esports and help organist events and tournaments. The UESF took over from the Ukrainian Federation of Cyber Sport (FCSU), which was founded in 2013, but has not been active since 2017.

Ukrainian Minister of Youth and Sport, Vadym Gutzayt had this to say following the announcement that Esports is now a recognised sport in the country: “We cannot ignore this phenomenon because esports is developing very fast all over the world. Audience interest is growing every month as is the involvement of our population. We want our children, who are already at the computer most of the time, not to become addicted to gaming, but to be able to turn their hobby into an intellectual competition.”

How Esports is Growing Rapidly in Ukraine

A meeting between Ukraine’s Minister of the Cabinet of Ministers and the former Minister of Youth and Sports, Oleh Nemchinov, UPEA founded Alexander Kokhanovskyy and co-founder Oleh Rybalka took place in an attempt to discuss the future of Esports, including how long-term investment would work, based on the Ukrainian Esports infrastructure. Kokhanovskyy has vast experience in the industry, having founded well-known Ukrainian Esports organisation Natus Vincere, as well as DreamTeam, an Esports infrastructure platform. The purchase of the Dnipro Hotel in the Ukrainian capital of Kiev was completed in order to create a new venue for Esports events, which is part of a significant development project in the city. The purchase of the hotel was worth an estimated $39.5 million, demonstrating just how seriously those in charge in Ukraine are taking things.