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pHorum7 launches drive for greater inclusivity in sim racing

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A new company has been established to support global initiatives to drive inclusivity and diversity in sim racing and esports. “pHorum7” (pH7) is made up of motorsport professionals whose collective experience covers decades, and who are driven by a desire to instil positive change.

The company recognises the challenges faced by so many wanting to break into seemingly impenetrable industries, while also seeing first-hand the need to open more opportunities for young people, regardless of their background.

As the spotlight on sim racing has intensified in recent years, so too has the need to address the all-important issues of equality, diversity, accessibility, and inclusion. pHorum7 exists to contribute to motorsport’s wider efforts in this area and to offer an open, accessible platform that showcases the power of esports and sim racing to tackle societal issues.

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pHorum7’s team includes agency CEO Claire Ritchie-Tomkins, sportscar racer Johnny Mowlem, motorsport professional Gary Ekerold and sports broadcaster Louise Beckett.

“We are committed to driving change and to open up esports and sim racing to the widest audience possible,” says pHorum7 co-founder Claire Ritchie-Tomkins. “We offer a neutral space, accessible to all, from which we endeavour to drive positive change to tackle negative issues.”

 

First Among Equals – The Floor is Yours

An important part of pHorum7’s vision will be to host tournaments that are accessible for sim racers of all backgrounds, and to offer a safe, equal platform to compete. The first tournament, First Among Equals, will take place at the end of November with the chance for the winner to drive the Williams Advanced Engineering simulator. There will also be the potential for competitors who demonstrate the right talent and attributes to experience real-world racing with a Le Mans Prototype through pHorum7’s connection to Red River Sport, which is run by Johnny Mowlem.

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Ritchie-Tomkins adds: “We all have a collective responsibility to play a part in making motorsport accessible for everybody, regardless of age, gender, race or background. We have a passionate team of people in pHorum7, and we are looking forward to working with likeminded people to offer an open, accessible platform from which to showcase the power of esports and sim racing to tackle these issues.”

 

Partnership with D-BOX

The new company is also partnering with D-BOX, the Canadian-based leader in immersive motion technologies for sim racing, esports and other applications, and the first and only haptic system to be officially endorsed by the FIA.

D-BOX Vice-President of Marketing and Communication, Stéphane Vidal, said: “We share are same values of diversity and inclusivity, and we look forward to working with pHorum7 on the First Among Equals tournament and other exciting initiatives that will open up the world of sim racing to wider audiences”

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FIA Girls on Track

pHorum7 is also pleased to be joining the latest FIA Girls on Track UK webinar, as it seeks to open opportunities for women and girls to compete equally in esports and sim racing.

Ritchie-Tomkins will be joined by members of the wider pHorum7 team for the event on Tuesday 7 September at 18:30 BST. Hosted by up-and-coming motorsport presenter Steph Wentworth, the webinar is open to everyone interested in sim racing as well as the 4,000-strong FIA Girls on Track UK community.

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eSports

ESIC Announces Establishment of Global Esports Industry Advisory Board

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The Esports Integrity Commission (ESIC) is pleased to announce the establishment of its Global Esports Industry Advisory Board, designed to enhance integrity and ethical practices across the esports landscape. The Advisory Board will serve a pivotal role by providing expert advice to ESIC’s Chief Executive Officer on a range of critical industry issues. 

The primary function of the Advisory Board is to create a robust framework for integrity and fairness, setting a global benchmark for ethical conduct and fair competition in esports. The board will offer strategic insights, help shape policies governing fair play, liaise with key industry stakeholders, and act as ambassadors advocating for ethical practices. 

ESIC has appointed two highly esteemed members to inaugurate this board: 

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  • David Neichel, Senior Vice President of Public & International Affairs at ESL FACEIT Group (EFG), joins the Advisory Board with over fifteen years of experience in the video games industry, including significant roles at Activision-Blizzard and Electronic Arts. David’s profound impact on international and public affairs initiatives makes him an invaluable addition to the board. 
  • Robbie Douek, CEO of BLAST, also joins the Advisory Board, bringing a wealth of experience from his roles at Google and Disney, along with his leadership through major acquisitions. Robbie is celebrated for his strategic leadership and his instrumental role in elevating esports to a significant global entertainment platform. 

The formation of the Advisory Board is an engagement that underscores the commitment of its members to upholding and promoting the highest standards of integrity within the esports industry. The board will meet as required to address strategic challenges and ensure that ESIC’s initiatives effectively meet current and future industry needs. 

“Both David and Robbie bring a remarkable depth of knowledge and a passion for advancing the integrity of esports,” said Stephen Hanna, CEO of ESIC. “Their expertise will be crucial as we navigate the evolving landscape of esports and strive to maintain the integrity that our community expects and deserves.” 

Robbie Douek, CEO at BLAST, said: “I’m honoured to be given the opportunity to support the Global Esports Industry Advisory Board and ESIC in their ambition to create the best and fairest environment possible for players, teams and fans.” 

David Neichel, Senior Vice President of Public & International Affairs at ESL FACEIT Group (EFG) also commented: “It is a true honour to join the Global Esports Industry Advisory Board and support ESIC’s successful journey. Fairplay and integrity are at the core of esports. We owe it to the players and to the fans and for a better endemic industry governance” 

The post ESIC Announces Establishment of Global Esports Industry Advisory Board appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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eSports

North Star Network Acquires Um Dois Esportes

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North Star Network has acquired Um Dois Esportes, a sports coverage and analysis site created from the merger of Gazeta Do Povo and Tribuna do Paraná in 2020.

Julien Josset, co-founder of North Star Network, said: “Thank you to the team at GRPCOM for their faith in us to take the brand forward. Um Dois Esportes is an established and renowned site in Paraná State, and we’re excited about the challenge of developing this asset.

“We’re happy to maintain the collaboration with the existing editorial team, and look forward to working with them, bringing our unique NSN approach, to take UDE forward.”

NSN’s signing of Um Dois Esportes is the media house’s fourth acquisition of 2024, following the recent deals to purchase UK-based SportsMole and MrFixitsTips, as well as Chilean site AlAireLibre, which was announced in March.

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The latest addition to the North Star media portfolio joins existing assets including Top Mercato, Afrik-Foot, and Vringe. The Paris-based company already oversees a significant Brazilian operation, delivering over 6 million sessions per month, from the likes of Trivela, Premier League Brasil and Lakers Brasil.

NSN will retain Curitiba-based journalists from the Um Dois Esportes legacy team to maintain the asset’s unique tone and popular coverage of the Paraná sports scene across site and social.

Rafael Mello, Director of GRPCOM, said: “We were surprised by the interest, and initially had no intention of selling Um Dois, but as the conversations evolved, we realised this was a serious group with good intentions. We were very happy to see our project being valued by a large international group and going global, demonstrating the quality of the content we produced.

“We’re also proud that North Star inherited our journalists, who are truly responsible for the success of the product we offer readers every day.”

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Alona Shevtsova

L&G esports team founded by Alona Shevtsova won the national Dragon EC Cup tournament

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Ukrainian esports team L&G won the Dragon EC Cup tournament, held on the 20th of April by Dragon Esports Club. Four teams competed in the tournament’s final: Lazer Cats, L&G, which received a direct invitation to the final stage, EsportsBattle, and ThunderFlash, which had open qualifiers. During the Grand Final, the L&G team competed with Lazer Cats on Mirage, Anubis, and Vertigo maps.

“This victory is a testament to the exceptional talent and commitment of our players, as well as the collective effort of our coaching staff and support personnel,” said Alona Shevtsova, founder of L&G Esports. “We are immensely proud of their accomplishments and grateful for the unwavering support of our fans.”

L&G is among the top 5 Ukrainian teams in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. It was founded in 2021. The previous name was Leogaming, and it was created on the initiative of the famous Alona Shevtsova from the fintech sector.

The team began competing in top tournaments and almost immediately made it to the Advanced division of the ESEA League Europe competition. The team also participated in and took prizes in European tournaments such as the SCL League, WhiteBit Crypto Open, Phoenix League, and local competitions. The team players are marat2k, r0ublE, kr1vda, kL1o, OneUn1que, rji (coach).

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The winners received a 50,000 UAH prize. Dragon Esports Club also prepared a 15-skin giveaway for the broadcast’s viewers.

It is worth mentioning that the L&G team created its merch items, which are available for order worldwide. To get more information about the team, visit the L&G Instagram page, Twitch, or Telegram Channel.

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