Commonwealth ESports Championships comes to the ICC

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  • Hosted on 6th and 7th August 2022
  • Space used included Halls 1, 3, 8, 11A and B, as well as three executive rooms

What was the event?

As part of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, esports athletes took centre stage at the ICC to compete in the Commonwealth Esports Championships.

Over 100 athletes represented the diverse Commonwealth nations and territories, going head-to-head in three esports titles – DOTA 2, eFootball™ series, and Rocket League for the honour of being crowned a champion.

Esports athletes from across the Commonwealth – Africa, Americas, Asia, Europe, and Oceania – battled through regional qualifiers for the right to be in Birmingham alongside their Commonwealth sporting peers.

The Objective

As the inaugural Commonwealth Esports Championships, it was crucial to provide a seamless event experience, not only for those in attendance in-person, but also for those watching via online streaming sites.

In the words of Katie Sadleir, CEO of the Commonwealth Games Federation, said: “We are delighted to be welcoming the best esports athletes in the Commonwealth to Birmingham. I have no doubt the Commonwealth Esports Championships will present a thrilling sporting spectacle and point the way towards the future of esports.”

And it’s that future which was so important to the ICC and the wider Birmingham region, aiming to cement a legacy of esports competition in the city. The event is supported by the Business and Tourism Programme (BATP), which aims to maximise the economic legacy of the Games, alongside West Midlands Growth Company who help drive long-term tourism, investment and major events into the region.

Neil Rami, CEO of the West Midlands Growth Company, said: “These two events represent a major legacy for Birmingham and the surrounding area. The future starts now.”

The Results

A true hybrid event was achieved, taking place both physically at the venue and in the virtual word. Head of Technical Production, Ben Prior, said that “understanding the requirements of the Commonwealth Esports Championships was crucial to a successful delivery.”

These requirements were wide-ranging, utilising five halls at the venue in total, as well as three executive rooms, with the main event being held in Hall 1 (pictured).

This meant that every moment was screened live on Global Esports Federation live streaming channels including Twitch and YouTube, as well as experienced by those in attendance at the ICC.

To excel when it comes to this streaming prevision, the ICC placed a £1.5million capital investment in the latest event technology in the last calendar year, ensuring the venue’s technical teams were able to deliver a standout event at a memorable time in the heart of Birmingham.