‘3.2.1 Play’ combines mobile esports with physical activity and will merge the worlds of esports and education
Around 20,000 teams expected to partake across five continents
Cologne – April 6th, 2021 – ESL Gaming, the world’s largest esports company, and the International School Sport Federation (ISF) have today announced a partnership in which ESL will operate 3.2.1 Play, the first global mobile esports championship designed specifically for school children.
This first-of-its-kind partnership links the world of mobile gaming and esports with that of education and physical activity. With as many as 20,000 student teams expected to enter, 3.2.1 Play proudly forms the next step in ESL’s mobile esports strategy in which inclusivity and accessibility is central.
Each team will be formed of three students, who will compete in a tournament featuring three mobile game titles. All attendees will also need to perform in a physical activity in order to validate their results and qualify.
The three-phase competition will span five continents with national qualifiers, continental finals, and world finals. The winners of the 3.2.1 Play championship will then be invited to a world-class sports event. Registrations for the first edition of 3.2.1 Play will open in September 2021, with the tournament itself expected to commence in November through to the world finals in January 2022.
“ESL is proud to partner with ISF to operate 3.2.1 Play, bringing esports and physical activity together at schools across the globe,” said Ralf Reichert, Co-CEO at ESL Gaming. “It is part of ESL´s mission to develop esports on a local to global level, providing a pathway for the next generation of talent from zero to hero. Mobile esports is accessible to everyone across the world and the competition will support the positive values for team-based sports and esports values.”
M. Laurent Petrynka, President of ISF: “It is with great pride that I can announce this new partnership with ESL, with the aim of developing the practice of physical activity by highlighting the fun and engaging aspects of Esports experienced by young people from all across the world. With this collaboration, we will be strengthening the opportunities we offer to youth, developing the sporting culture and continuing to encourage education through sport.
ISF and ESL Gaming are accompanied by RevolutionR, a communication agency specializing in the development of new sports practices as well as video games.
“We have been increasing awareness in the world of sport and video games for 20 years,” said Gilles Broise, CEO at RevolutionR. “As the creator of sports trends, we have given a wide media visibility to sports such as skiing and snowboarding freestyle, nowadays Olympic disciplines. RevolutionR has also contributed to the expansion of the video game market towards families and casual gamers. We are delighted to take part in the development of esports on smartphones in the school environment alongside 2 world-renowned institutions, ESL Gaming world leader in the organization of esports tournaments and the International School Sport Federation ISF.”
ABOUT ESL GAMING
ESL Gaming is the world’s largest esports and gaming lifestyle company. Since 1994, the company has been shaping the industry and leading esports and gaming innovation on a global scale across the most popular video games with numerous online and offline esports competitions, and through premier gaming lifestyle festivals. The company operates high-profile, branded international leagues and tournaments under the ESL Pro Tour, including ESL One, Intel® Extreme Masters, DreamHack Masters, ESL Pro League, and other preeminent, stadium-size tournaments. ESL Gaming also produces and hosts DreamHack Open tournaments, ESL National Championships, grassroots amateur cups, matchmaking systems, and DreamHack’s gaming lifestyle festivals — which feature everything gaming under one roof. ESL Gaming is part of MTG, the leading international digital entertainment group. More information is available at eslfaceitgroup.com.
ABOUT ISF
Recognised by the IOC since 1995, the International School Sport Federation (ISF) is an international non-profit sport organisation of 129 member associations and is the umbrella organisation and governing body for national school sport organisations, which organises sport and educational events for school students from 6 to 18 years old. Additionally, ISF is developing policies towards more accessible and educational school sport. This includes the implementation of youth leaders’ programmes, emphasising education through sport, developing educational programmes on Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations, and supporting the inclusion of young people with fewer opportunities. With more than 30 sports in its programmes, the ISF organises four different categories of events: Multi-sport events; World Schools Championships, School Sport Cups and Educational events.
ABOUT RR
Since 2000, RevolutionR has been supporting major brands in their communication strategy.
Creators of trends and accelerators of behavioural changes, RevolutionR offers its customers tailor-made solutions to implement innovative projects.
Experts in alternative communication, we mix the tools of press relations, digital, and the organization of innovative events, to give life to our clients’ projects and ensure the viral nature of messages in order to disseminate them to as many people as possible. First communication agency identified tourism, new technologies and video games, sport and environment by the press and the corporate network, RevolutionR is in the TOP10 of the most digital active event agencies.