Sports: Suzara s group questions PESO s legitimacy, despite LITTLE nod

MANILA, Philippines – A group led by Ramon Suzara, who was the head of the organizing committee for the 2019 Southeast Asian Games, is questioning the legitimacy of the Philippine Esports Organization (PESO) after it was declared a National Sports Association. (NSA). for e-sports at home.

The Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) had welcomed PESO as an associate member, and POC President, Representative Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino, noted that the organization had “successfully met all the requirements for membership.”

PESO obtained the approval of the POC General Assembly at its meeting on August 29.

In a statement, the National Electronic Sports Federation of the Philippines (NESFP), of which Suzara is president, urged the POC to “reconsider its decision to accept as a member any group that claims legitimacy as an NSA for electronic sports.”

The NESFP wants the POC to wait until the International Olympic Committee has recognized an international esports federation. At the moment, the IOC does not recognize any esports federation, not even provisionally.

“On behalf of the NESFP, I urgently request a reconsideration of your decision to accredit the Philippine eSports Organization [PESO] as an associate member of the NSA for esports rather than the NESFP, “Suzara said in a letter dated September 2.

Suzara, who was the director of operations for PHISGOC, insists that the International Electronic Sports Federation (IESF), of which PESO is a member, is not recognized by the IOC and is not on the list of the Global Association of Sports Federations. International.

“This clearly does not meet the captioning requirement under the POC Membership Rules,” he said.

It also notes that the NESFP is recognized by the Global Esports Foundation (GEF) and its continental federation, the Asian Esports Federation (AESF). AESF is a partner of the Olympic Council of Asia, which managed e-sports as a demonstration sport at the 2018 Asian Games.

“There is no factual and legal basis for the accreditation of PESO as a member of the POC,” Suzara emphasized. “But with the documents that the NESFP has submitted, and given its experience and outstanding performance in conducting the 2019 SEA Games, the NESFP is certainly eligible for accreditation by the POC.”

In her letter, Suzara also states that it was NESFP who organized and managed the esports competition at the SEA Games, while also selecting and training athletes for the Philippines team.

In a statement to ABS-CBN News, PESO explained that contrary to Suzara’s claim, the esports competition at the 2019 SEA Games was not hosted by the NESFP but rather by the Philippine SEA Games Esports Union, a group that includes both NESFP and Esports National. Association of the Philippines (ESNAP).

PESO member organizations also played key roles in helping prepare for the 2019 SEA Games Esports Tournament. Since then, ESNAP has merged with PESO, bringing those organizations together under one banner.

“ESNAP merged with PESO to create a unified NSA for Philippine esports,” said Jane Basas, director of consumer wireless business at Smart Communications Inc.

“With the combined leadership of the PESO member organizations and the expertise of the SEA Games and its own properties and events, along with the IESF programs for the global development of esports, we are confident that the award of associate membership status by the POC will result in a remarkable change in the development and elevation of Philippine esports, “he added.

According to Suzara, the POC has yet to acknowledge her numerous letters or attempts to discuss why the NESFP should be a member of the organization. This, despite sending his letters weeks before the COVID-19 pandemic.

But Tolentino is calling on Filipino esports stakeholders to join and support PESO as it fulfills its role as the official NSA for esports in the Philippines.

“I urge practitioners of this sport to join the PESO NSA, to forge a united and formidable front in international competitions,” said Tolentino.

“I congratulate the men and women behind PESO, and urge them to continue on the winning path shown by their Sibol Team at the last SEA Games, which they dominated,” he added.

“With the legitimacy afforded by its membership in the IESF and now in the POC, I have no doubt that the Philippines can look forward to more stellar e-sports performances in the near future.”

Brian Lim, President of PESO, said: “We are grateful to the POC for their recognition of PESO and esports. This would help us to further support our fellow Filipinos who are competing globally and bringing glory to the Philippines.

“Together with the IESF and the POC, we are committed to the implementation of initiatives that really expand and develop electronic sports in the country,” he added.