The government should promptly propose and pass a basic act on the development of e-sports to address administrative and legal shortfalls, and ensure a long-term and comprehensive development environment, Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) lawmakers said yesterday.
The government is quick to take the spotlight and congratulate e-sports teams when they win international championships, but it lacks any follow-up, whether in legislation or policy, to help overturn social prejudices against e-sports players, which is what the industry needs, KMT Legislator Lo Ting-wei (羅廷瑋) said.
Taiwan has what it takes to develop the industry properly, Lo said, citing the quality of Taiwanese gamers.
Photo: George Tsorng, Taipei Times
The Taipei-based Taipei Assassins won the 2012 League of Legends Season 2 Championship, while Taiwan is internationally renowned for its technological prowess, he said.
The only reason it lags behind South Korea is because the South Korean government is involved in developing the e-sports industry, he said.
Seoul in 1997 began providing low-interest loans to help the country’s cybercafe industry grow and in 2000 it created the South Korean e-Sports Association, Lo said.
It also passed the Act on the Promotion of the E-Sports in 2012, he said.
By 2016, the South Korean e-sports industry was valued at 83 billion won (US$55.1 million), he added.
When Taiwanese companies want to host international competitions or seek sponsors, they face scattered policies, Lo said, adding that most companies lose patience and outsource the events and investments to other countries.
The proposed legislation would not conflict with the Sports Industry Development Act (運動產業發展條例), as it would address policy shortcomings, and support competitions and talent development, he said.
KMT Legislator Ko Ju-chun (葛如均) said that Taiwan is qualified in terms of equipment and hardware supply chains to promote the adoption of an e-sports basic act.
Taiwan is very capable of handling the international marketing, strategy and data analysis behind an e-sports event, Ko said.
The government should do more to prevent the stigmatization of gaming as a waste of time, as it is a legitimate form of international competition, while participation among elderly people is significant, he said.
Schools should provide locations with professional practice equipment and allow clubs to be founded, Ko said, adding that e-sports is an integral part of youth, technology, education and industry policies.
Feng Yuan-kai (馮元愷), secretary-general of the national e-sports association, said that e-sports is a unique sport due to the high turnover of games, making the industry difficult to govern under standard sports laws.
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