Team Spirit's victory at The International and esports in Russia: Politicians and officials discuss esports in Russia after Team Spirit's victory

Contents:

• Olympians We Lost
• All to the Mid

On October 17, Team Spirit, a team made up of Russian and Ukrainian players, won The International 10 in Dota 2 and received a prize of $18.2 million. This significant event generated widespread interest not only among esports fans but also attracted the attention of politicians and celebrities. The reaction of people outside the gaming community was quite unexpected and highlights the influence of esports on society and culture as a whole.

A congratulatory message from Vladimir Putin to Team Spirit was published on the official website of the Russian Presidential Administration. In his address, the President noted that the team members demonstrated outstanding leadership qualities and unity during the prestigious competition. Putin emphasized that Russian esports athletes are always determined to achieve high results and are capable of overcoming any difficulties, confirming their status on the international stage.

Team Spirit's achievements cannot be underestimated. They deserve respect and praise, perhaps even at the presidential level. However, the question arises: how did Vladimir Putin learn about the team, the tournament, and the game itself? In a recent YouTube interview, former presidential adviser and Chairman of the Board of the Digital Economy Development Fund, German Klimenko, stated that Putin does not use the internet or mobile phones, receiving all information in printed form. This raises interesting questions about how information about esports and Team Spirit's achievements reaches high-ranking officials.

German Klimenko noted that some executives do not utilize the internet to its full potential, relying instead on information provided to them. He emphasized that a lack of deep interest in certain areas, such as ballet or internet technologies, is not critical. It is more important that they can make decisions based on available information.

Vladimir Putin has raised the issue of video games more than once. A year ago, during the All-Russian Open Lesson, he noted that eSports tournaments can be beneficial if properly organized. The President also expressed concern about children's fascination with computer games and eSports, emphasizing that these concerns are not unfounded. He emphasized the importance of specialists' work in preventing gaming addiction.

In 2017, Vladimir Putin approved the federal educational program "Cyber ​​Russia" at a meeting of the Supervisory Board of the Agency for Strategic Initiatives. This program is focused on training qualified specialists and developing startups in computer game development, as well as implementing virtual and augmented reality and blockchain technologies. The "Cyber ​​Russia" program plays a key role in developing new personnel for the industry, promoting innovation and strengthening Russia's position in the global technology and gaming development market.

Cyber ​​Russia planned to become an innovative university of the future, the organization announced in November 2017. However, the first hackathon, titled "Assemble a University," appears to have also been its last. Social media activity, which had continued for a month, suddenly ceased, and the Cyber ​​Russia website is currently unavailable. The project's disappearance raises questions about its future and its impact on educational initiatives in the field of cybersecurity.

The Olympians We Lost

The reaction of the president's entourage to Team Spirit's congratulations was immediate. Presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov emphasized that computer games like Dota 2 can be considered a full-fledged sport and attract a significant number of fans. However, the State Duma's attitude toward video games remains ambiguous.

Olympic speed skating champion and State Duma deputy Svetlana Zhurova expressed her opinion on Team Spirit's victory. She noted that this success represents a powerful advertisement for esports among young people, which could lead to Russia losing "future great athletes capable of becoming Olympic champions." Zhurova also emphasized that the government is unable to solve this problem. Nevertheless, she believes that esports is still better than "hype blogging," expressing hope that this phenomenon will not become widespread.

Deputy Nikolai Valuev congratulated Team Spirit on their victory at The International. He noted that many officials previously viewed esports with distrust. Valuev also added that the Russian team's success is a significant indicator. He stressed the importance of preventing talented young players from going abroad to work for Western companies. In his opinion, such minds are being actively hunted all over the world, and he hopes that Russian services will be able to provide them with opportunities for self-realization and employment in Russia.

Vitaly Milonov also commented on Team Spirit's victory, noting that esports players may not be in exceptional physical shape, but their achievements in esports are much more significant than simply spending time with beer and chips. Following Natus Vincere's triumph at the PGL Major Stockholm 2021 CS:GO championship, he emphasized the importance of supporting esports, stating that such successes should be actively encouraged. While Milonov has also defended video games in the past, he has expressed concerns about some of them, considering them potentially harmful to the psyche of children.

Three-time Olympic champion Irina Rodnina emphasized the importance of modern achievements in sports. She noted: "Our athletes are demonstrating incredible abilities, they are truly great! We cannot get stuck in the past and rely only on established Olympic values. New realities require us to adapt, and the term "together" has become more relevant than ever. Esports is a fully-fledged field of professional sports, and while our athletes demonstrate outstanding results here, in football, for example, our professionals have not yet reached such heights. Sport is multifaceted and diverse; it is important to be able to celebrate achievements in each area." Former Russian national team midfielder Alexander Mostovoy criticized Team Spirit's victory at The International tournament. He noted that the size of the tournament's prize fund was surprising and added that this championship has no relation to traditional sports. Mostovoy emphasized that esports lack physical activity: "You don't have to do anything: no running, no jumping. Just sit and play with your hands at the computer. Sport is something that is done by real people." For comparison, the salaries of leading Russian football players range from $2.5 to $3.7 million per year, highlighting the differences between traditional sports and esports. Russian national team and Monaco midfielder Alexander Golovin expressed his joy for Team Spirit. The athlete noted that he enjoys video games, particularly Dota 2 and CS:GO, and understands how difficult it was to achieve victory at The International. This achievement highlights the high level of skill and perseverance required to succeed in esports.

All on

Team Spirit's victory generated widespread attention, even appearing on federal television channels such as NTV, where the report featured an outdated photo featuring an outdated lineup. High-ranking officials, including Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Chelyabinsk Region Governor Alexey Teksler, joined the discussion of Team Spirit's triumph. Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko also noted the team's success, which is logical, given his position as Deputy Prime Minister for Digital Economy and Innovation. This underscores the growing attention to esports in the country and its importance on the international stage.

In September 2021, at the plenary session "Sport 2030. The Path to Sustainable Development in the New Conditions" of the ninth International Forum "Russia – Power of Sports," Dmitry Chernyshenko shared information about the concept of the international movement "Futurous – Games of the Future." This initiative aims to integrate sports, science, technology, and education amid declining interest in traditional competitions. Chernyshenko noted that Russia has 4,000 professional players and 15.4 million eSports fans. The first competitions within the movement are planned for 2023, underscoring the country's commitment to developing new sporting event formats.

The traditional Olympic triad of "body, will, mind" now includes a new component—technology, which has become an integral part of our lives. Russia has always strived to develop advanced technologies and actively contributed to progress in global sports. In this regard, the country is introducing a new movement, "Futurous"—the Games of the Future. This competition combines several areas: esports, mobile technologies, robotics, artificial intelligence, and traditional sports, with the introduction of innovative and high-tech elements.

In June 2021, the Russian government announced its intention to introduce esports and game development courses into university curricula. According to Kommersant, the Russian video game market grew by 35% during the pandemic, leading to an increased demand for qualified specialists in this field. In response, the government's Digital Development Commission approved an updated plan for the "New Internet Communication Technologies" initiative. As part of this initiative, by December 2022, a number of Russian universities are expected to begin offering esports classes, courses in data analysis, video game development, and training in the use of technology in the film industry and other forms of content. Total funding is expected to amount to 17.6 billion rubles, of which 8.6 billion rubles will be allocated from the federal budget. This decision highlights the importance of developing digital skills and technologies in education, which helps prepare professionals needed to succeed in the rapidly growing video game industry.

In April 2021, the Russian government announced plans to create a special fund to support video game developers aimed at popularizing Russian history and culture. Companies such as Mail.ru Group and Yandex were expected to be the main recipients of the funding. However, representatives of the gaming industry expressed doubts about the viability of this initiative. Experts believe that projects focused on cultural propaganda may fail to attract a wide audience and achieve commercial success.

In 2019, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev criticized foreign video game developers during a visit to the Mail.ru Group office. He noted that some foreign games misrepresent historical events. Medvedev believes the Russian gaming industry avoids such mistakes thanks to the high demands of domestic consumers.

This is not the first time such rhetoric has been heard in government circles. In 2013, the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Industry and Trade put forward a similar initiative. At the time, the plan was for major Russian video game developers to create a project based on the events of World War I. However, this project remained unimplemented. It's important to note that interest in historical themes in the gaming industry continues to grow, and the opportunities for creating high-quality games remain relevant.

In May 2021, Sergei Kiriyenko, First Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office of the Russian Federation, noted the importance of the older generation's appropriate attitude toward video games at the All-Russian Children's Big School Picnic. He compared Dota 2 to chess and emphasized that gamers develop teamwork skills through play. Kiriyenko had previously expressed a negative attitude toward video games, calling them a tool for manipulating consciousness and a space for political struggle. His change of heart indicates a growing recognition of the importance of video games in modern society and their potential for youth development.

As of October 2021, there has been a significant increase in demand for Dota 2 coaches online, having increased sevenfold. The cost of analyzing two matches can reach up to a thousand rubles. On the final day of The International 10, searches for the keywords Dota and Dota 2 tripled, with the term "International" growing by 115%. Users also showed increased interest in purchasing computers and collectible models of the Aegis artifact, which retail for up to 10,000 rubles. This surge in interest underscores the importance of Dota 2 in the gaming industry and opens up new opportunities for coaches and companies offering products related to the game.

Don't forget that in addition to NTV, Channel One also produced a story. TV presenter Ivan Urgant congratulated Team Spirit on their victory at The International, noting that "our teams excel in sports that are truly Russian: beach soccer and Dota 2."