Category Archives: Sport

Features Singapore, Swimming

Singapore to host 2025 World Para Swimming Championships

Competition to be held in Asia for the first time in history with around 600 athletes set to compete at the world-class OCBC Aquatic Centre within the Singapore Sports Hub from 3 to 9 October 2025.

Singapore’s top Para swimmers joined an event in the host city to mark the announcement of the 2025 World Para Swimming Championships ⒸAndy Chua/SDSC

World Para Swimming and the Singapore Disability Sports Council (SDSC) unveiled on Monday (5 February) Singapore as the host city for the 12th edition of the World Para Swimming Championships. The Championships will unfold at the world-class OCBC Aquatic Centre within the Singapore Sports Hub, from 3 to 9 October 2025.

Aligned with Singapore’s 60th birthday celebration, the World Para Swimming Championships will serve as a testament to the nation’s unwavering commitment to inclusivity. Significantly, this milestone event marks the inaugural occasion of the World Para Swimming Championships being hosted in Asia. It also presents a rare opportunity for swimmers, both with and without disabilities, to vie for victory as the 2025 World Aquatics Championships is also going to be held in Singapore.

Craig Nicholson, Head of World Para Swimming, said: “We are delighted to announce that next year’s World Championships will take place in Singapore, marking the first time the competition is held in Asia. This is a major milestone for our sport and is also evidence of the growth of Para swimming in the country and the region. Singapore hosted the Citi Para Swimming World Series for the first time in 2019 and since then we have had the opportunity to see first-hand the great work of the Singapore Disability Sports Council, providing opportunities and breaking barriers for persons with disabilities in society. We look forward to working together with the SDSC and their partners to welcome the world’s best Para swimmers to the OCBC Aquatic Centre in 2025.”

Para swimming has been a consistent stronghold for Team Singapore, producing Paralympic medallists and world record holders such as Yip Pin Xiu and Theresa Goh Rui Si. Additionally, Asian Para Games medallist Toh Wei Soong, Asian record holder Sophie Soon and numerous ASEAN Para Games medallists have contributed to the nation’s rich Para swimming legacy. Beyond elite competition, the SDSC also welcomes nearly 100 individuals with physical, visual and intellectual disabilities to its national championships annually.

Dr Teo-Koh Sock Miang, President of the SDSC, expressed, “We envision this landmark event propelling Singapore onto the global stage as a country that commits to empower individuals of all abilities. With the generous support of Sport Singapore and the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth, we aim to reach out to more Singaporeans through the awareness and partnerships that will be fostered by this event.”

“There remains a large number of Singaporeans with disabilities who can find inspiration, success and achievement in Para swimming and Para sport. We would like everyone to be able to gain inspiration and confidence from the exceptional Para swimmers that they will witness at this event. We implore supportive partners and sponsors to collaborate with us in forging a lasting legacy for persons with disabilities and the broader Singaporean community.”

“The 2025 World Para Swimming Championships promise to be an unforgettable celebration of diversity, athleticism, and community.”

Edwin Tong, Minister for Culture, Community and Youth, and Second Minister for Law, who graced the occasion as the Guest of Honour, said, “Hosting the World Para Swimming Championships is a significant milestone for the disability sport community in Singapore. It will enable our Team Singapore athletes to compete against the world’s top Para swimmers on home ground, and inspire Singaporeans, as they witness the competition up close.”

Transformative impact

Community activations featuring various Para sports in Singapore are in the plans to raise awareness and reach more persons with disabilities.

“SportSG fully supports efforts to uplift the lives of persons with disabilities through sport, through initiatives such as our Para Sport Academies, SportCares programmes, and inclusive ActiveSG facilities. Hosting the World Para Swimming Championships will enable us to build on these efforts in the same year that Singapore will also host the World Aquatics Championships and celebrate SG60. The organising committee seeks to co-create this event with our partners and deliver a memorable experience for all athletes, officials and members of our community. We look forward to everyone’s active participation in cheering for the world’s best aquatics athletes and immersing in the event festivities,” said Alan Goh, Co-Chair of the Steering Committee for the Singapore 2025 World Para Swimming Championships.

Five-time Paralympic champion swimmer Yip Pin Xiu added, “I never imagined that we would one day get to showcase Para swimming to this level in Singapore. To know that it would happen at a world-class pool, with the top Para swimmers in the world competing right here on our little island, feels truly surreal. It not only shows that Singapore has taken concrete strides towards promoting inclusivity over the years but has received the confidence to play a leading role in the global landscape. I hope that more Singaporeans and organisations will take up the opportunity to watch the Para swimmers at the World Championships and find ways to be a part of this. Together we can understand how sports, and respect, can help to transform our stories as individuals and as a community.”

Emphasising the sense of community, Para swimmers, athletes from diverse sports, coaches, officials, and parents joyously marked the announcement with a traditional ‘lo hei’—a cherished Singaporean dish during the Lunar New Year that symbolises the act of “tossing for good fortune.” This heart-warming gesture was a collective wish for success in the upcoming World Championships.

Singapore has successfully hosted international Para swimming events in recent years, in particular the Citi Para Swimming World Series in both 2019 and 2023. It remains the sole Asian destination on the tour in 2024. The biennial World Para Swimming Championships, most recently hosted in 2023 in Manchester, Great Britain is anticipated to draw approximately 600 elite Para swimmers from over 60 nations to the vibrant garden city.

As part of the leadup to the Championships, a new Para swimming learn-to-swim programme, called Swim Together, was also introduced by the SDSC on Monday.

Developed by World Para Swimming, Singapore will be one of the first countries globally to launch the programme, with workshops commencing in May 2024 alongside the Citi Para Swimming World Series Singapore. The SDSC aims to equip more local swim coaches with the skills and confidence to welcome individuals with disabilities into the world of swimming.

 

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eSports, Features Australia/NZ

SXSW Sydney 2023 concludes today

1000 events over seven days delivering pure energy from creatives! Originating from Austin, Texas in 1987, SXSW has received world accolade as one of the most cutting-edge festivals for any content-maker and consumer of this digital era. So it makes sense that ahead of its March 8-16 SXSW in 2024, and while North America’s creative industry is on standstill from the American actors’ union Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) strike, the magic fairy dust has picked up and blown over on Gadigal land with the first South by Southwest (SXSW) Sydney.

Here’s a peek at some of what went on. Photos are supplied by the organisers.

Meanwhile, in the next building, the Intel Extreme Masters Sydney 2023 known as IEM Sydney returns this weekend after a four-year hiatus, to a sold-out crowd. Team Australia goes up against Team UK with the most entertaining callers at the ESL Counter Strike (eSports League) match. There was even a ‘snake’ thrown on stage, only to be wrestled away to safety by an Aussie dressed in his smartest ‘budgie smugglers’! Games is one of the major events at SXSW besides the other village zones of Tech and Innovation, Games, Music, Screen and Culture. The festival concludes today.

Watch the live-stream here on Twitch.

AFTNews, AFTNews, Airsports

3,2,1… Go! The 2023 Fai World drone racing Championship in Korea starts this Friday

The city of Namwon in the Republic of Korea is buzzing with excitement as the world’s best drone racing pilots have arrived to compete in the 2023 FAI World Drone Racing Championship (WDRC), part of the World Drone Festa.

Renowned as the biggest competition of its kind, a total of 115 competitors are registered for the Championship. They will battle it out in Namwon’s Sports Town complex, Jeollabuk-do from 6-9 October 2023, in an exhilarating high-speed drone race, with cash prizes up for grabs.

The challenging track twists and turns around ramps, tunnels, hoops, straights and a cube feature, and has been designed to test the skills of the pilots over an optimised trajectory of 725m.

Drone racing tends to attract highly focused younger pilots. In total there will be 40 juniors competing, as well as 65 seniors, with ages ranging from nine years old to 47.

Twelve female pilots will participate, including Thailand’s Wanraya Wannapong who won the female champion title in both previous editions of the WDRC in 2018 and 2019.

France’s Killian Rousseau is currently top of the World Cup Ranking, followed by Pawel Laszczak of Poland and Roland Ronto from Hungary.

There are 29 national teams plus six wild card individual competitors registered, and pilots are travelling from as far afield as Finland, Israel, South Africa, the USA and a number of Asian countries.

Prize money is on offer for the top four pilots in Individual, Female and Junior categories, plus the top six Nations. The best individual will win 15,000,000 South Korean won (just over 11,000 US dollars).

This is the third edition of the 2023 FAI World Drone Racing Championship. Previous events were held in 2018 and 2019 and this is the championship’s hotly anticipated return after the pandemic.

EVENT SCHEDULE

FRIDAY 6 OCTOBER

  • 2023 FAI e-Drone Racing Cup – Part 1 (8 races) and Opening Ceremony

SATURDAY 7 OCTOBER

  • 2023 FAI e-Drone Racing Cup – Final (7 races)
  • WDRC Qualifying rounds 1-3 (24 races each)

SUNDAY 8 OCTOBER

  • WDRC Additional and Elimination rounds

MONDAY 9 OCTOBER

  • WDRC Elimination rounds, Juniors Final, Women’s Final, Overall Final
  • Medals & Closing Ceremony

FOLLOW THE LIVE STREAMING

FAI Air Sports Channel

  • 11:30-21:10 (KST), October 7, 2023
  • 08:30-20:20 (KST), October 8, 2023
  • 09:00-14:00 (KST), October 9, 2023

THE FIRST EVER E-DRONE RACING CUP

Not only will spectators see the elite of the drone racing world race around the obstacles at high speeds, but they will also be part of the World Drone Festa, which includes the final of the 2023 FAI e-Drone Racing Cup in which 32 pilots will compete for cash prizes. This is the first ever race of its kind, and will be livestreamed on the FAI Air Sports Youtube Channel:  13:30-15:30 (KST), October 6, 2023 09:00-11:00 (KST), October 7, 2023

DRONE SOCCER OPEN INTERNATIONAL CUP

Drone Soccer originates from Korea, and visitors to the World Drone Festa will also be able to watch the Korean FAI Drone Soccer Open International Cup, which will feature 70 competitors in two categories. Live Streaming: Korea Aero Models Association Channel: 10:00-17:00 (KST), October 7, 2023, 10:00-18:00 (KST), October 8, 2023, 10:00-16:00 (KST), October 9, 2023.

Continue reading 3,2,1… Go! The 2023 Fai World drone racing Championship in Korea starts this Friday →

Features Australia/NZ, Olympics

Have A Go at an Olympic Sport on Olympic Day

Via PRNewsGIG

The AOC’s message is “Have a Go” at any Olympic sport on June 23rd as a way of increasing everyone’s physical and mental health.

AOC Chief Executive Officer Matt Carroll says with 44 Olympic sports available, there’s something for everyone.

“On Olympic Day, right around the world, people are encouraged to spend 30 minutes engaged in some form of physical exercise.

“We’d love to see Australians get moving by “Having a Go” at an Olympic sport. Take that time on Olympic Day with friends, colleagues or even by yourself to get moving for 30 minutes.

“Sport has significant physical and mental benefits for everyone, no matter your age or background. Everyone is different, so matching yourself to an Olympic sport makes it easy. For some, it might be getting back into a sport they love.

Australians can get involving in Have a Go on Olympic Day in three simple steps:
1) Choose an Olympic sport
2) Work out how you are going to #HaveAGo on Olympic Day 23 June
3) Share the content on social media on the day

Details about how to Have a Go on Olympic Day can be found at www.olympics.com.au/olympic-day/have-a-go-2023

Mr Carroll said starting with 30 minutes gives everyone the encouragement to build into an ongoing involvement.

“Having a Go is what Australians do. Not everyone is going to be an Olympian but everyone can have a go. Start on Olympic Day and keep it going through to July 23rd, which marks nine years to go until the Brisbane 2032 Summer Olympic Games.

“Who knows, a child that has a go this Olympic Day might be competing for Australia at the Brisbane 2032 Games. For the rest of us, hopefully we will be healthier and happier.

Schools across the country will be hosting Have a Go events.

Following application from 114 schools who entered a draw, the following seven schools will receive a special Olympic Day visit from an Olympian. Congratulations;

  • Good Shepherd Primary School, Amaroo, ACT (Canberra)
  • Gordonvale State High School, Gordonvale, QLD (Cairns)
  • Campbell Street Primary School, Hobart, TAS (Hobart)
  • Notre Dame College, Shepparton, VIC (Shepparton)
  • Waddington Primary School, Koondoola, WA (Perth)
  • Sadleir Public School, Sadleir, NSW (Sydney)
  • Playford College, Elizabeth, SA (Adelaide)

Additionally, Australian Olympic Pathway School, Narrabeen Sports High School, North Narrabeen, NSW (Sydney) will also receive a visit, while Savannah Fitzpatrick (Tokyo 2020 – Hockey) returns to her old school, Lindisfarne Anglican Grammar School (NSW North Coast) for a special Olympic Day talk.

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AFTNews, eSports, Features Singapore, Olympics

Olympic Esports Week Singapore 2023

Via PRNewsGIG

Tickets are now on sale for the inaugural Olympic Esports Week 2023!

The Olympic Esports Series 2023 is a global virtual and simulated sports competition created by the IOC in collaboration with International Federations and game publishers. The finals, held live this year for the first time, is one of the highlights of the OEW at the Suntec Singapore Convention & Exhibition Centre. There are nine featured sports for the Olympic Esports Series: Archery, baseball, chess, cycling, dance, sailing, tennis, taekwondo, and motorsport.

Ticket holders will be able to experience a wide variety of games with a host of additional titles set to be announced for the line-up of exhibition matches. Visitors who are inspired by the Olympic Esports Finals and exhibition match action can also try their hand at selected games at the free-to-play zone. This will also be an opportunity to explore the latest innovations across virtual sports and gaming such as motorsport, baseball, cycling, cricket and more.

“The Olympic Esports Week Singapore 2023 is a truly unique event, bringing together a wide and diverse variety of elements for a celebration of virtual sports, gaming and esports. From the exciting live finals of the Olympic Esports Series 2023 which will showcase some of the world’s best players, to the free-to-play zone for everyone to get involved – we hope to inspire sports, gaming and esports fans of all levels and backgrounds. We have made a deliberate decision to organise the OEW 2023 so that this Olympic event is accessible to as many people as possible and for everyone to be a part of the first-ever OEW,” said Mr Mark Chay, Co-chair of the Local Organising Committee for OEW 2023.

Singapore’s hosting of the inaugural Olympic Esports Week will also be boosted by the support of organisations known for being among the best in their respective fields. Partners include all Worldwide Olympic Partners (https://olympics.com/ioc/partners) as well as local event partners; global technology leader Alibaba, Singapore Airlines, virtual reality company PICO, network connectivity provider Singtel, one-stop esports solution provider VSPO and real estate group CapitaLand.

Mr Chay also said: “Similar to an athlete’s sporting success on the global stage, staging a global event like the OEW requires the support of a team of committed partners and stakeholders. The local organising committee is grateful to have the backing of partners whose visions and goals align with ours. We are all working hard together to ensure that fans, players and officials get to enjoy some of the best of physical-hybrid and virtual sport in June.”

Those in Singapore will also get a sneak preview of the OEW experience from 5 May 2023 with a roving trailer bringing the world of esports and virtual sports to 13 locations across Singapore for a period of 50 days up until the Olympic Esports Week. This will give visitors the opportunity to try the OEW titles first hand, compete to win attractive prizes and meet with key leaders in the world of esports and virtual sports. Other exciting programmes will also take place in various key locations across Singapore.

Here are some exciting updates from the Olympic Channel:

Esports – DISH: The story of a successful streaming entrepreneur

https://youtu.be/exIuFEMa8R4
https://youtu.be/l4T2ISszxdo

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AFTNews, eSports, Olympics, Sport

IOC announces Olympic Esports Series 2023 with winners to be crowned at live finals in Singapore from 22 to 25 June, 2023

Source: AFTNN

On 1 March 2023, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced details of the Olympic Esports Series 2023, a global virtual and simulated sports competition created by the IOC and in collaboration with International Federations (IFs) and game publishers. 

The initially confirmed featured games across nine sports are:

  • Archery (World Archery Federation, Tic Tac Bow),
  • Baseball (World Baseball Softball Confederation, WBSC eBASEBALL™: POWER PROS),
  • Chess (International Chess Federation, Chess.com),
  • Cycling (UCI, Zwift),
  • Dance (World DanceSport Federation, JustDance)
  • Motor sport (Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile, Gran Turismo).
  • Sailing (World Sailing, Virtual Regatta),
  • Taekwondo (World Taekwondo, Virtual Taekwondo)
  • Tennis (International Tennis Federation, Tennis Clash),

https://stillmed.olympics.com/media/Images/News/2023/03/01/ESports/2023-03-01-Virtual-video-02.mp4

The Olympic Esports Series 2023 begins today, when both professional and amateur players from around the world are invited to take part in qualification rounds across a host of the featured games.

The Olympic Esports Series 2023 will culminate in live, in-person finals for the first time, with players having the opportunity to progress to the Olympic Esports Finals 2023. Taking place at Singapore’s Suntec Centre from 22 to 25 June, the finals action will be a highlight of the recently announced Olympic Esports Week 2023.

Coming together in Singapore for this unique competition, the players will compete in front of fans for the prestigious title of Olympic Esports Series winner. The thrilling finals action will be streamed globally across Olympics.com and Olympic social channels.

This evolved format of the IOC’s virtual competition builds on the successes of the Olympic Virtual Series. The 2021 series, which took place ahead of the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, attracted over 250,000 participants from across 100 countries to take part in competitions. The Olympic Esports Series 2023 marks another step in supporting the development of virtual sports within the Olympic Movement, as laid out in Olympic Agenda 2020+5, and continues its collaboration with the gaming and esports communities to create new opportunities for players and fans alike.

Speaking at the announcement, David Lappartient, Chair of the IOC Esports Liaison Group, said: “The Olympic Movement brings people together in peaceful competition. The Olympic Esports Series 2023 is a continuation of that, with the ambition of creating more spaces to play for both players and fans of elite competition. We look forward to witnessing some of the world’s best compete on the global stage, as well as exploring together shared opportunities and lessons – across health and wellbeing, training and innovation.”

This follows the recent announcement that Singapore will host the first Olympic Esports Week 2023. Created in partnership with the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth, Sport Singapore and the Singapore National Olympic Council (SNOC), the four-day festival will showcase the very best of virtual sports – including technology exhibitions, show matches, expert panel discussions, and the first live finals of the Olympic Esports Series. The full programme and ticket details for the Olympic Esports Week 2023 will be revealed in April.

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AFTNews, Soccer, Sport

WHO and football icons rally to score a goal for “Health for All” to build healthier future

On Universal Health Coverage Day (UHC Day), the World Health Organization (WHO) teams up with international football icons to urge action by governments and people across the world to achieve health for all. UHC ensures that everyone, everywhere can access the support they need to be and stay healthy without being driven into financial hardship.

To mark UHC Day, WHO is launching two new tools: one to help governments design and deliver the right service coverage packages for their populations; and a second to provide people with reliable information to support the everyday decisions they make to protect their health and well-being.

 “The World Cup is the greatest prize in football, and the greatest prize in life is good health and well-being,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “Health is not a luxury for the rich, but a fundamental human right, and the foundation of peaceful, prosperous and sustainable economies and societies. The tools we are launching today will help governments and individuals to realise that right.”

UHC Day 2022 comes at a critical time when countries across the world are rebuilding from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic while facing many other crises such as economic and energy constraints, climate change and conflict.

UHC Day kicks off the countdown to the high-level meeting on UHC which will be held at the United Nations General Assembly in 2023. Heads of State and Government, at the first high-level meeting on UHC in 2019, affirmed that health is a precondition for and an outcome and indicator of the social, economic and environmental dimensions of sustainable development. They strongly recommitted to achieve UHC by 2030 by scaling up the global effort to build a healthier world for all. The 2023 meeting is an opportunity to take stock of progress and galvanize political support and global action towards achieving UHC targets.

UHC Day at the FIFA World Cup

On the eve of the semi-finals of the FIFA World Cup 2022™, WHO and its Goodwill Ambassador for Sport and Health, football legend Didier Drogba, led UHC Day celebrations in Doha, Qatar. This formed part of a full day of activities organized by the Education Above All Foundation to put a spotlight on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 3: Good health and well-being.

“I found myself in the unusual place where if I had problems on the field, help arrived quickly, and we’ve seen how vital that support can be lately. But off the field, we know, this isn’t always the case,” Didier Drogba said. “Ill-equipped clinics, unsupported health workers, and not enough medicines and vaccines put people’s well-being at risk around the world. Good health needs a team effort, so we need governments to commit to policies that support Universal Health Coverage and give everyone access to what it takes to be healthy. When we team up for health for all, we all win.”

Football enthusiasts of all ages moved to show their support for health for all as electronic dance artist and vocalist, The Mad Stuntman, performed his famous song, “I Like to Move It,” highlighting the importance of staying active and the role of sport in promoting good health and well-being.

Sherrie Silver, Rwandan-British MTV Award winning choreographer, advocate for the International Fund for Agricultural Development of the United Nations, Malaria No More Ambassador and Rwandan development advocate also led the crowd in a dance-off, called the World Cup Workout.

“On Universal Health Coverage Day, let’s all be active and play our part to make health for all our goal, said Alisson Becker, goalkeeper for Brazil and Liverpool, and WHO Goodwill Ambassador for Health Promotion.

A new WHO tool to help countries deliver UHC

Achieving national health goals has been hampered by the lack of a structured approach in designing and delivering a comprehensive package of health services that are tailored to local contexts.

WHO is launching a new tool named the Universal Health Coverage Service Package Delivery and Implementation or UHC SPDI Tool to support countries in designing their unique UHC health service packages. This innovative and practical online tool includes functionalities that will allow national health planners to select from a comprehensive range of health services—spanning promotive, preventive, resuscitative, curative, rehabilitative and palliative services—that people need to reach the highest attainable standard of health and well-being.

The tool is also designed to help identify human resource needs, essential medical products, infrastructure and other elements required for the effective delivery of health services. It also emphasizes first contact primary and emergency care, and highlights a primary health care approach as the basis for strengthening health systems and bringing all sectors under the vision of achieving health for all. The successful implementation of a national health service package will ultimately equip countries to accelerate progress towards UHC.

Universal health information for “Health for All”

WHO also launched a digital resource for the public called, “Your life, your health: Tips and information for health and well-being.” It provides people across different life phases with trustworthy health information that they can easily access, understand and use in daily life.

The resource provides basic information, founded on WHO technical guidance, on important topics such as keeping well during pregnancy and after childbirth, or how to be healthy and active in later adulthood. It also provides information on people’s rights and skills related to accessing and using information for health and well-being.

LINK: : https://www.who.int/news/item/12-12-2022-who-and-football-icons-rally-to-score-a-goal-for–health-for-all–to-build-healthier-future

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AFTNews, The World Games

The World Games 2025 Application for Sports Selection is underway

Seeking to be in at TWG 2025

With just under 1,000 days to go before the start of The World Games in Chengdu, Peoples Republic of China, the application process for the multi-sport event from 7-17 August 2025 has begun. Member Federations of the International World Games Association have until 16th December to submit their proposals for the sports programme.

The Evaluation Commission will then select the 30+ sports to be in Chengdu. After that, the IWGA Board of Directors will determine the programme that will most excite fans in China at the 2025 Games. The final vote will take place at the Annual General Meeting next spring. The entire process is being managed by Sebastian Garvens, Head of Games Services.

IWGA CEO Joachim Gossow expects the 12th edition of The World Games in the capital of China’s Sichuan Province to present new sports, or at least new disciplines. “There are always changes to the programme. At the Birmingham Games, for example, we awarded medals in Breaking, Parkour, Drone Racing and Flag Football for the first time. Wheelchair Rugby was there as a new sport. I assume that our Federations will want make use our platform in Chengdu for their young and emerging disciplines as well.

At the Games in Birmingham, USA, 34 sports with 58 disciplines and 223 medal events got their globally acclaimed stage during the ten competition days. At the 12th edition of the event, the number of sports on the programme will almost certainly expand. The strategy paper of the IWGA foresees that in addition to the sports of the Member Federations, there will be space in the programme made available for other partners. The host city Chengdu, the International Olympic Committee and the International Paralympic Committee are all invited to participate with proposals for sports disciplines for TWG 2025. The number limit for participants in the Games in three years’ time has been set at 5,000.

Sebastian Garvens explains the criteria for the proposals from the Federations and other partners: “The medal events must not be part of the full Olympic programme in Los Angeles 2028. In addition, each Member Federation can propose a maximum of three disciplines. They must also ensure that the best athletes can compete in the medal events in August 2025.” Other factors that count in programme selection are audience interest in the host country, media interest in a sport, and whether the right kind of sports venue is available. One of the sustainability principles of The World Games is that no new sports facilities need to be built for the event. Gender equality is also important; IWGA allowed almost equal numbers of women and men to compete in the 2022 Games.

In preparation for their applications, the IWGA has sent a questionnaire to the Member Federations. It helps to provide the necessary information for the Evaluation team: the description of the disciplines and events, the number of athletes and competition days, as well as the prerequisites to be created for a competition at the highest level.

The compilation of the sports and disciplines is only the first step on the way to the competition programme for The World Games 2025 in Chengdu. After that, it is a matter of creating a suitable schedule and selecting the appropriate competition venues. The whole process should be largely completed by the fall of 2023. The IWGA will schedule a Competition Managers Meeting for the fourth quarter next year. During the two-days meeting, the concrete implementation of the plans will dominate the agenda.

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AFT Features, Airsports

Korea to host world’s biggest drone racing competition in 2023

The World Air Sports Federation or Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) has awarded the 2023 FAI World Drone Racing Championship to Korea. It is the biggest competition of its kind, offering an arena for the world’s best pilots to pit their skills against one another.

The Championship will take place from 6 to 9 October 2023 at the Chunhyangol Stadium in Namwon, Jeollabuk-do, about two hours south of Seoul. It will include prize money of USD 100,000.

Chunhyangol Stadium

KAMA, one of the sport’s most experienced organisers worldwide, is teaming up with the Federation of Korea Aeronautics and the city of Namwon to deliver the Championship, with the aim of organising a top-level event for competitors and spectators alike. Aside from the Drone Racing competition, an FAI Drone Soccer competition, a Drone Conference and other side events will familiarise spectators with the infinite world of drones. Music concerts and an array of cultural activities will complete the picture in the field of entertainment, while experts will debate and discuss drones at a conference.

Drone Soccer

Antonis Papadopoulos, President of the FAI Aeromodelling Commission, said: “We are delighted with the 2023 FAI World Drone Racing Championship being held in Korea, knowing this exciting competition has been entrusted to the hands of highly competent and experienced organisers. Their ambitious plans to showcase drones in all their variety, competition and otherwise, is promising to be a hit with everyone. And I must say, after two years of interruption, we are all impatient to see the world’s best of the best pilots fight for victory. This event cannot come soon enough!”

The two first editions of the FAI Drone Racing World Championship happened in Shenzhen (2018) and Ningbo (2019), China, before a three-year gap caused by the pandemic.

Drone Racing
AFTNews, eSports

Esports Pioneer Dato’ Ananth S. Nathan Makes Bold Investment in English Football Club AFC Wimbledon

  • The investment makes Dato’ Ananth puts him in the league of Asians to have ownership of a European football club
  • Bold plans are in the pipeline to leverage Esports as an innovative strategy to grow beyond the traditional football roots, as well as nurture local and regional talent through a football academy

Dato’ Ananth S. Nathan, President of the Malaysian Esports Federation (MESF) and pioneer of the Esports community in Southeast Asia has undertaken a leading investment in founding English Premier League Club Wimbledon FC, which was resurrected in 2002 as AFC Wimbledon. This investment positions him as the second-largest individual shareholder AFC Wimbledon, and one of a select few Asian owners of a European football club.

A very unique aspect of Dato’ Ananth’s investment is that he has never seen the AFC Wimbledon team play live. In 2002, Wimbledon FC, or affectionately known as the Dons, was controversially severed from its community by the decision of a Football Association commission. The club was relocated 70-miles from its home, and repositioned under a new name and ownership.

A devastating moment for fans, this resulted to a fan-led campaign that relaunched the club as AFC Wimbledon in the same year, maintain the team’s outstanding legacy. That same passion was also shown during a multi-million-pound fundraising campaign to rebuild its beloved Plough Lane home stadium, with the club playing its first match in its new Plough Lane home in November 2020.

Dato’ Ananth shared that he found his own journey echoed the story of struggle and triumph of AFC Wimbledon, forming an instant bond with the passion and perseverance with the football club. He has become a committed supporter of AFC Wimbledon’s journey, one which he hopes to extend through a shared community in Asia and beyond.

“In 2010, I went through a tough stint in my personal and professional life. With the support of family and close friends, I persevered.  Like a phoenix, my life rose from the ashes and I embarked on an upwards trajectory,” he said.

Dato’ Ananth said that he believes AFC Wimbledon’s story will resonate in Malaysia and throughout Asia. “The strong community spirit on the revival of the club was an important catalyst of this investment. It never crossed my mind as an investment, I did it because I love football and the romantic history of the club. When I went through the museum here at Plough Lane, I had goosebumps. That’s the effect I want to create in Malaysia. So, when the opportunity came, I had to put my name in,” he continued.

Despite its rocky history, AFC Wimbledon is no stranger to success. The club currently holds the record for the longest unbeaten run of league matches in English senior football, with 78 consecutive undefeated league games, as well as being proud winners of the FA Cup in 1988 having beaten Liverpool 1-0 at Wembley.

Through the investment, Dato’ Ananth also assumes a new role as International President for AFC Wimbledon. His ambition is to combine his unique Asian perspective and connections, and his extensive Esports experience to build on the Dons’ remarkable legacy and passionate fanbase.

Alongside revitalised business foundations in his successful AIRMARINE, an international integrated logistics and supply chain business, Dato’ Ananth believes he is positioned to help inspire an exciting new future for AFC Wimbledon.

In the long-term, there are bold plans to have the Dons play against national teams of Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, and other nations of the region, as well as develop a Wimbledon Academy in Asia to help build player depth and experience across the club and national team. Dato’ Ananth also plans to build a local clubhouse where people can watch the game live together.

Beyond the traditional roots of a shared gameday experience, Ananth also has a vision to potentially establish the famous Plough Lane stadium as a leading home of Esports, building on the huge growth of this innovative industry.

He said, “I would like to see how we can add value with a Wimbledon Esports Division. According to reports, the global gaming market was valued at USD173 billion in 2021, and is expected to reach USD314 billion by 2027. That is something we should look to capitalise on.”

Dato’ Ananth’s inspired investment also sees him take a significant share in AFCW Plc—the holding company of AFC Wimbledon Ltd, AFCW Stadium Ltd, AFC Wimbledon Women, and The Wider Interests of Football Limited.

Dato’ Ananth S. Nathan, ardent sports fan and International President for AFC Wimbledon

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AsiaFitnessToday.com Esports Pioneer Dato’ Ananth S. Nathan Makes Bold Investment in English Football Club AFC Wimbledon is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International license. Source: https://www.asiafitnesstoday.com/dato-ananth-s-nathan-invests-in-english-football-club-afc-wimbledon/