The first winners of the Olympic Esports Series 2023 were crowned on Friday (23 June), with Team Fuego earning that honour after triumphing in the Cycling finals at the Suntec Singapore Convention & Exhibition Centre. The inaugural Olympic Esports Week, which officially started on 22 June, got off to a thrilling start with three other winners crowned in the Archery, Sailing and Dance events of the Olympic Esports Series finals. 

Says Martin Maertens from Germany, Cycling (UCI, Zwift) Team Fuego: “It’s just insane. Insane. Coming here, I did not believe that we could achieve this win, but the team was so great and everyone put in a little extra percent to get this title. I have dreamed of (winning an Olympic event) but I didn’t think I’d have the chance at some point and now, it’s just surreal.”

“I am really happy, I put in a lot of hours and it paid off, so I’m happy that I won. I would have been disappointed if I didn’t, and it’s a relief,” says Jared Montgomery (MontyDey) from USA, Archery (World Archery Federation, Tic Tac Bow) “The experience at the Olympic Esports Series was nerve-racking. I was a little bit shaky at first, but once I started playing, I was okay. It was so cool. It’s so exciting and it was a lot of fun to play. When we were playing qualifiers, we were just in our own home alone, no distractions. There are a lot of sounds going on here and lights blaring at you. It was distracting, but we got through it. I was still adjusting to it when I was on stage. My first game was a little shaky. But once I adjusted I was okay.”

The winners on the first day of the Olympic Esports Series 2023 finals are as follows:

Sport	Winner
Cycling (UCI, Zwift)	Team Fuego:·       Lou Bates from Great Britain Marlene Bjärehead from Sweden James Barnes from South Africa Martin Maertens from Germany
Archery (World Archery Federation, Tic Tac Bow)	Jared Michael Montgomery (MontyDey) from USA
Sailing (World Sailing, Virtual Regatta)	Tim Carpentier (UOL Pepitõ) from France
Dance (World DanceSports Federation, JustDance)	Amandine Morisset (TheFairyDina) from France

“It was an amazing experience and I’m very happy with the win. You need to have more concentration because there’s a lot of things (around you) like cameras, spectators — so you need to focus on the game and make sure you only yourself in your head and not other people. The most difficult thing today was not taking penalties and sailing the fair winds. I managed to take good starts and stay far from the opponents,” says Tim Carpentier (UOL Pepitõ) from France, Sailing (World Sailing, Virtual Regatta).

“This is for all the women that play video games, that play Just Dance. You are capable and you are worth it. I really want to thank my family, my parents, my brother, my sister-in-law, my lover. You believed in me all the way when I didn’t believe in myself. My awesome community, my Dinasaurs — this is for you,” Amandine Morisset (TheFairyDina) from France, Dance (World DanceSports Federation, JustDance). “I want to thank the judges as well because this game is amazing. It changed my life in the most amazing way and I couldn’t be more proud. This is more than a dream. The competition was so tough. I feel for all the participants. I know they gave their best in the conditions and I’m just so super happy for my country as well.”

The Olympic Esports Series 2023 began in March, when both professional and amateur players across the world were invited to participate in the virtual sports competition, created by the International Olympic Committee in collaboration with International Federations (IFs) and game publishers. Approximately 500,000 players entered qualification rounds with hopes of securing their place in the first in-person finals of the Olympic Esports Series. A total of 131 players, including 18 from Singapore, reached the finals. On Friday, archery players Jyan Seow (jyyn.s) and Aidan Wong (Aiko.W) from Singapore were eliminated in the group stage while dance player Siti Zhywee Ramle was eliminated in the quarter-finals. Sailing player Colin Ng (North3DL) finished in 11th place.

The battle to be crowned Olympic Esports Series 2023 winners continues on Saturday with Baseball, Chess, Tennis and Shooting events to be contested. Hosts Singapore will have players in all four events.

Photo Credit: IOC, Lionel Ng

Tickets to the Olympic Esports Week are available now with tickets starting from S$10 per day and three-day passes are available from S$20, ensuring that more can witness the making of history and enjoy the epic competitions between some of the world’s best players. Day passes for families (two adults and two students) are also available from S$25. Full event agenda and tickets are available at SISTIC.