The Vice-Chairman of the Athletes’ Commission overseen by the Global Esports Federation, Koen Schobbers’ joined the show's esports focused session last year and provided a great wealth of insights about the needs of e-athletes today.
Do you think the lockdown may have indirectly contributed to the rise of esports as a way to pass the time and keep in touch with the esports community, as a substitute for lack of face to face contact?
“Absolutely. Numbers across esports, and gaming in general, have improved during the lockdown. I like your question mentioning ‘’substitute for lack of face to face contact’’, as that’s what I heard a lot since the first lockdown.
“People booted up their games to still be in touch with one another. It once again proved the social element that games provide. The esports industry has also grown regarding players and viewers.
“Though, it’s not all great, as also many offline events were cancelled which led to problems for organisers and teams, especially at the beginning. Happy to say that most of the problems that the industry encountered at the beginning are resolved.”
Products catering to the esports industry are going from strength to strength as participants are recognising the need to pay attention to diet and nutrition. Do you think the lockdown has contributed to this or did you already see this happening as the industry takes mental and physical preparation ever more seriously?
“Before the lockdown, I already noticed the esports industry taking more care with diet and nutrition. Not only that, but also physical activity and mental health.
“However, I think that the lockdown put an extra focus on these topics as many people started to struggle with their nutrition, diet, physical health, and mental health.
“This greater focus has led to more developments in the esports industry which, in turn, helps players, staff etc. It’s good to see the esports industry become more and more professional.
The event went online for the first time in 2020 as a response to the pandemic. Do you think the new format helped or hindered the event’s reach and audience participation? As a presenter, did you feel a lack of a face-to-face audience affected the points you were trying to make?
“Regarding the event itself, I think it is likely that the online format helped the event’s reach and audience participation. As people don’t have to travel to an offline location but, instead, can stay at home and simply tune in online.
“However, I also believe the focus of people is better at online events... At home, you can easily be distracted by many other things happening.
“Personally, my preference will always be to present in real life. However, I also very much enjoy the possibility to still provide information online and engage with the audience in all forms the online format provides. Online or offline doesn’t affect me with the points I’m trying to make.”
This year’s Sports & Active Nutrition Summit Europe is trying to increase the interactivity with our audience by introducing 1to1 networking as well as access to sponsor hubs. Do you think this online approach will increase as we move forward out of lockdown?
“Absolutely. As long as there’s travel restrictions and cuts to travel budgets it only makes sense to host events online and improve engagement opportunities for people.
“There’s a lot of possibilities online and I’m sure that with time, more and more new formats and ideas will be brought to life to make the online experience more enjoyable for participants.
Overall, is the Sports & Active Nutrition Summit Europe an event you would recommend attending? What did you like about it in terms of content, format and/or interactivity?
“I surely recommend it. If there’s a subject on the agenda that you might not know, get to know it. It might change the way you do business.
“I noticed this first-hand as I received many emails and LinkedIn messages after my talk. Besides, there’s always someone interesting to meet or connect with.
“The format of the event is made for interactivity which, by itself, is a reason to attend. Always good to talk to others or meet new people.
Register now!
In addition to the live shows, those registered for this year’s SANSE will also be able to download on-demand content.
The opportunities for networking will be plenty, with a one-to-one booking system which will allow you to schedule meetings with other attendees before, during and after the three-day event.
This year’s event caters to both industry and academia with an industry ticket costing €299 or €224.25 with a 25% early bird discount. Just enter code SNSEARLY21 at the time of booking, applicable till 14 September 2021.
An academic ticket costs €149 or €119.20 with a 25% early bird discount. To receive this discount, contact sportsnutrition-events@wrbm.com. Early bird discount also ends 14 September 2021.
The stage is set for big industry names to fill the (virtual) room, and top-level speakers on the stage. But don’t take our word for it! Take a sneaky peak at the agenda for the summit and then register!
With a few weeks to go until the main event kicks off, reserve your place, and get involved with the fastest growing Sports Nutrition community out there!