Exeter Chiefs enter the esports arena
The Exeter Chiefs rugby team are taking part in a region-wide esports tournament taking place in Exeter this week.
Exeter College will host the event in their multi-million pound Esports Academy, a new development featuring VR planking machines, simulators, and cutting edge computing equipment.
Esports is one of the fastest growing industries in the world, with a global revenue of over $1bn and an audience of 474m in 2021, according to Newzoo. Esports first appeared as an official medal sport at the Asian Indoor Games in Macau in 2007, with the International Olympic Committee suggesting in 2017 that they may be included in future Olympic tournaments.
The Exeter Chiefs are in. Don Armand, who as well as being an international rugby player at the Chiefs is also the founder of The Gaming Athlete, is leading a team at the event.
Don said: “Esports is an incredibly important sector for so many reasons. Whether you look at it from a business, participant or spectator point of view, or whether you are young or old, new to gaming or a seasoned gamer, esports is going to develop in a fantastic way. The new tech, businesses, tournaments, and the market as a whole is very exciting, with so much potential.”
The knockout competition will be streamed live for people to tune in remotely via the Exeter College Esports Academy Twitch channel, and displayed on the large onsite screen.
Don Armand will be competing alongside front rows Marcus Street and James Kenny.
Rob Bosworth, deputy chief executive of Exeter College, said: "Esports is rapidly developing as one of the most participated sports on the planet. Due to the way it’s played, it can be embraced by people of all aspects of society who can compete and engage on a level playing field. We are seeing this as a real change-agent for diversity and inclusivity with our students and the wider community.
“For many this will be the entry point into digital skills, but much further than that, the gaming industry is multifaceted and can involve events management, production and design, media management, not to mention strategic and critical thinking. We are delighted to be supporting the event and hope on the back of the success of this year's launch, we will expand this even further next year."
Tech is already the fastest growing part of the South West economy with esports expected to play an increasingly significant role in the sector in the coming decade.
Dan Pritchard, co-founder and director of Tech South West, which is organising February's festival said: “The South West is already at the cutting edge of tech across a variety of specialisms - from marine tech to software, cyber and renewable energy. It’s fantastic to add esports to that impressive portfolio of innovation, and support the growth of what could be one of the UK’s key esports hubs at Exeter College.
“Bolstering the tech talent pipeline in the region is a core part of our work at Tech South West, alongside improving business support for tech companies and helping tech firms to reach investment. The new Esports Academy at Exeter College is a brilliant facility and will be instrumental in supporting young people to find great careers in tech.”
More information at techsouthwest.co.uk/esports-festival-2022
