Following an opening ceremony that involved a scintillating display of mixed reality, entertainment and even pyrotechnics, the inaugural Global Esports Games (GEG) in Singapore is now officially underway.
The ceremony kicked off with a trailer that featured some of Singapore’s most iconic landmarks with a special added touch: the three titles contested at the GEG: Dota 2, Street Fighter V Championship Edition and eFootball 2022.
Competing at the highest level
The goal of the Games was always to promote the power of esports and allow athletes across geographies to compete at the highest levels, said Ms Ng Shin Ein, the chairperson of GEG2021’s Organizing Committee. And just like any other sport, esports athletes go through much to get to the elite level. "Most people focus on the fun part of esports, overlooking that esports is also physically and mentally demanding," she said.
Mr Chris Chan, President of the Global Esports Federation (GEF), also took to the stage to welcome the guests. "Across the GEF's first two years, we have seen unparalleled growth in esports around the world. And we have been proud to help unlock and shape the potential for athletes and gamers around the world to compete and shine at the pinnacle of esports," he said. "Despite our challenges and distance between us, we are indeed #worldconnected. The time is now for esports.”
ShiGGa Shay goes meta
The opening ceremony then started with a form of performance that is not often seen. Wearing a motion capture suit and rapping his new single, ShiGGa Shay was seen both on stage as well as in the form of a virtual avatar in the metaverse.
His smooth moves and crisp rapping of his electronic pop rap “uTopia reimagined” took centrestage, and had many heads bobbing in the arena. We imagine, many in the virtual world too.
GEF Flag Moment
With ShiGGa’s phygital crossover act setting the scene, the next segment of the event featured even more technology. Using augmented reality, the GEF Flag was unveiled to re-emphasize the power of such events to bring people together. It served as a perfect introduction to all the players who took pains and spared no effort in flying into Singapore from across the globe, just to compete live at one of the year’s biggest international tournaments. After all the athletes, officials and the rest of the community took part in an oath, Mr Edwin Tong, Singapore’s Minister for Culture, Community and Youth declared the GEG officially open. With his palms over a glass globe, Mr Tong, who is also Singapore’s Second Minister for Law, opened the event with a display of pyrotechnics, lighting the arena and igniting the excitement for the games ahead.
