Esports

Delegates poses for photos at the opening ceremony of the first Esports and Phygital Sports Festival Việt Nam 2024 on January 6 in Bắc Ninh Province. VNS Photo Thanh Hà.

HÀ NỘI — Some 5,500 contestants are taking part in the first Esports and Phygital Sports Festival Việt Nam that opened on January 6 at the Bắc Ninh Sports University in Bắc Ninh Province.

During the two-day event they will compete for 108 medals in four disciplines of esports (E-football, NBA2k; Audition, Battle Teams, Football Pro); phygital sports (a combination of e-football and futsal; and E-basketball and 2x2 basketball); simulated sports (e-golf; virtual reality Mission X) and digital entertainment sports (recsports, dance, tegball and calisthenics…).

Lê Trí Trường, head of the organising committee, said: "Esports have been growing strongly globally. Esports were not recognised in Việt Nam in the past and suffered criticism. Over the years, it has become popular in the country.”

He said Việt Nam's esports team won four gold and three silver medals at the 31st SEA Games to top the table.

A year later they secured one gold, two silvers and four bronzes at the 32nd SEA Games.

Trường said: "EPS24 will link physical activities and technical sports."

Vietnamese national football players take part in a tegball game. Tegball is one of the sports to be played at the first Esports and Phygital Sports Festival Việt Nam. Photo of VFF

Phygital sports are being organised for the first time.

"Phygital sports are a combination of physical and digital sports," Nguyễn Xuân Cường, chairman of the Vietnam Recreational and Electronic Sports Association (VIRESA), said.

“With the motto 'Determination, Innovation, Creativity, Pioneering in Digital Transformation', we hope the festival will popularise esports and phygital sports."

Representatives of the International Electronic Sports Federation are in attendance to participate in discussions about teaching esports at university.

At the event, players and fans also have the opportunity to try their hand at esports games.

The event is being organised by VIRESA, the Việt Nam Olympic Committee, the Hanoi Sports and Entertainment Association, and other partners. VNS