KUALA LUMPUR – The Youth and Sports Ministry is refining measures to introduce e-sports as part of sports activities in schools.
Minister Hannah Yeoh, however, said the matter was still at a preliminary stage by taking into consideration the needs and potential of e-sports to be widely developed in these educational premises.
“I understand that with e-sports being gazetted as one of the 103 sports, there will be discussions at the grassroots level for small e-sports tournaments to be held in schools.
“The listing of e-sports as a sport is an important recognition. However, we cannot ensure this sport will make it to all schools because not all schools are e-sports enthusiasts,” she said.
She said this at the launch of the National E-sports Development Guidelines (Nesdeg) at the ESI Hub in Puchong, near here, today.
Hannah said steps to introduce e-sports would be intensified with the hosting of various tournaments after it was confirmed that e-sports would make its debut in next year’s Malaysia Games in Sarawak.
Earlier, the Nesdeg was officially launched as a guide to all stakeholders relating to more effective governance, rights, and responsibility among e-sports enthusiasts and industry players.
The six main thrusts under the Nesdeg were also announced, covering various important scopes for the development of a safe, energetic, inclusive, and sustainable e-sports ecosystem, namely the management of player contracts, the governance and management of esports events, the monitoring and protection of children, a code of conduct and ethics, and guidance on e-sports career paths as well as the application of sports science and medicine in e-sports. – Bernama, June 20, 2023