Federation – In esports, federations play a crucial role in bringing together organizations, countries, and individuals who share a common passion for competitive gaming. These federations, categorized into international and national entities, serve diverse purposes ranging from organizing global championships to promoting esports education. A federation in esports is a collaborative entity formed by organizations, representatives of countries, or associations of individuals within a specific region who share a common purpose in advancing esports. There are two primary types of federations based on their scope: international and national. International federations boast a global membership, fostering connections among esports enthusiasts worldwide, while national federations are confined to their respective countries.
Notable Esports Federations:
International Esports Federation (IESF): Based in South Korea, the IESF is a prominent international federation focusing on organizing esports competitions. The IESF conducts an annual esports championship that attracts participants from all corners of the globe. The 15th World Esports Championship, hosted in Lasi, Romania, featured a staggering 114 participating countries. [1]
Network of Academic and Scholastic Esports Federation (NASEF): NASEF, dedicated to esports education, strives to provide opportunities for students to develop STEAM-based skills and social-emotional attributes through esports.[2] Offering a comprehensive curriculum for middle and high schools, as well as a scholastic fellow program for educators, NASEF emphasizes the importance of esports in academic and personal development. [3]
Global Esports Federation: Bringing together athletes, players, and industry leaders, the Global Esports Federation serves as an inclusive platform for the global gaming community.[4] With over 130 global partnerships and member federations, the organization conducts annual championship events and offers education through the Global Esports Academy.[5]
National Esports Federations: In addition to international bodies, various national esports federations contribute to the growth of esports. Examples include the British Esports Federation, Asian Electronic Sports Federation (AESF), German Esports Federation, Japan Esports (JESU), and the United States Esports Federation (USeF).
Federation and Parent Organization:
While some parent organizations often have “federation” in their names, there are differences between the two entities. A parent organization is a non-governmental organization recognized by the state that develops and promotes esports in its respective country. An example is the Indonesian Esports Federation (Pengurus Besar Esports Indonesia – PB ESI). PB ESI is a state-recognized esports non-governmental organization and the governing body for esports as a competitive sport in Indonesia. It also receives its budget from the Indonesian government under the Ministry of Youth and Sports.
Unlike parent organizations, federations generally do not receive state recognition. They function as non-governmental organizations without the authority to govern esports beyond their own members and do not receive government funding for their activities. Both parent organizations and federations share the same purpose of promoting and developing the esports ecosystem. However, it should be noted that the main difference between the two is that anyone who has a passion for esports can form a federation, but not all federations can receive recognition and become an extension of the government’s administrative body.
Examples of Esports Federation:
Currently, there is no international esports organization that has been recognized by the International Olympic Committee. However, there are several international, continental, and national esports federations that have already been established. Some examples of esports federations are as follows:[6]
| International | Continental | National |
| International Esports Federation (IESF)Global Esports Federation | Asian Electronic Sports Federation (AESF)European Esports Federation (EEF) | British Esports FederationGerman Esports FederationJapan Esports (JESU)United States Esports Federation (USeF) |
[1] IESF, ‘Past Events’ <https://iesf.org/events/> accessed 26 January 2024
[2] NASEF, ‘About the Federation’ <www.nasef.org/about> accessed 26 January 2024
[3] NASEF, ‘Curriculum’ <https://www.nasef.org/curriculum> accessed 26 January 2024
[4] The Global Esports Federation ‘The Global Esports Federation’ <www.globalesports.org/about> accessed 26 January 2024
[5] Ibid.
[6] ‘International and National Esports Associations and Federations’ <https://ebrary.net/181451/computer_science/international_national_esports_associations_federations> accessed 26 January 2024
