DEXERTO — The International Olympic Committee (IOC) have finally decided to embrace esports, somewhat, with their first licensed event for “non-physical virtual sports” starting May 13.

After years of back and forth as to whether the IOC would ever include esports in their event, the Olympic Virtual Series appears to be the start of that very thing happening.

The team behind the sporting spectacle have partnered with sporting federations and game publishers to bring five “non-physical virtual sports” together as part of the event.

Konami’s eBaseball Powerful Pro Baseball 2020, online cycling platform Zwift, international rowing federation World Rowing, sailing race simulator Virtual Regatta, and racing gaming Gran Turismo have all been tapped for the event.

The Olympic Virtual Series starts on May 13 and runs until June 23, serving as a precursor to the Olympic Games Tokyo to “mobilise virtual sport, esports and gaming enthusiasts all around the world.” It’s being produced by DreamHack Sports Games, who focus on turning traditional sports leagues and tournaments into esports. [MORE]

THE ESPORTS OBSERVER — Gaming festival operator DreamHack has announced a new event that aims to combine its traditional collective gaming event with a unique online experience. Dubbed DreamHack Online, the event will include the livestreams, game previews, cosplay competitions, and esports competitions that a traditional DreamHack offers while also providing the framework for a new narrative-driven gaming experience.

Together with Super Crowd Entertainment, Dreamhack will offer a browser-based, multiplayer experience that will be integrated into the digital festival. According to a release, attendees will also have access to an interactive experience which features DreamHack partners.

The week-long event will run from July 24-31.

ESPORTS INSIDER — Esports organiser and production company ESL Gaming has announced a new mobile esports ecosystem covering North America, Europe/MENA, and Asia-Pacific.

ESL Mobile’s inaugural 2021 Spring Season kicks off on April 12th with a $650,000 (£475,069) prize pool. The Fall Season will be held later this year. [MORE]

OZ MAGAZINE — Virtual production software developer Zero Density and Peach Maria Productions has joined in a strategic partnership. The agreement will make Peach Maria Productions — producers of the upcoming reality competition series, GAMEMASTER, with host Wil Wheaton — the largest Reality Engine virtual production operation in the world by the end of 2021.

With a 10,000 square foot, purpose-built virtual production sound stage, the new studio will include 13 computing engines, 12 cameras, and real-time rendering. Accompanying support space will include audio and video editing bays, broadcast studios and offices. Peach Maria will oversee the space, including booking it for third party productions beginning in the fall of 2021. [MORE]

THE ESPORTS OBSERVER — The NHL has tapped DreamHack Sports Games to operate live and online esports competitions and events for its NHL Gaming World Championship brand in a multi-year deal. In addition to operating events and livestream coverage, DreamHack Sports Games will collaborate with the NHL to approach new sponsors.

NHL Gaming has historically focused on established NHL sponsors, but VP of Business Development and Innovation Chris Golier told The Esports Observer that one advantage of working with DreamHack Sports Games is the ability to access new sponsors, particularly those endemic to the esports industry. [MORE]

NPR “Morning Edition” — Deborah Scott has been working as a grassroots organizer in Georgia for nearly four decades. NPR's Noel King talks to Scott about how she began, and how her work has helped to galvanize voters.

This week, two Democrats from Georgia were sworn into the U.S. Senate, Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff. For decades, Georgia was a reliably Republican state. So what happened? Organizers say it took a years-long campaign that was not aimed at flipping the party that controlled the state, but aimed at building a new and better Georgia regardless of party.

Deborah Scott is one of the organizers. She moved to Georgia as a teenager to attend Clark Atlanta University. She was from Ohio. And she was astonished to realize that in the late 1980s, the KKK would still show up to civil rights marches. [LISTEN HIERE]

BLOOMBERG: “Balance of Pwer with David Westin” (Watch at 25:33) — Market jitters rise as the virus surges again and the Georgia Senate runoffs loom. Guests: Bloomberg Contributor Rick Davis, Dr. William Moss of Johns Hopkins, Kiersten Todt of the Cyber Readiness Institute, Deborah Scott of Georgia STAND-UP (Source: Bloomberg) [Watch Segment at 25:33 HERE]

NPR “The 1A” — The presidential election is over, but the fight for control of Congress is still ongoing in Georgia.

Incumbent Republican Sens. Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue are campaigning against their respective opponents, Rev. Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff, ahead of Jan. 5 elections.

The outcomes in Georgia will decide control of the Senate. If both Democrats win, the Senate would be split between the two parties, 50 Republicans and 50 Democrats. Current Vice President-elect Kamala Harris would cast tie-breaking votes once she assumes office.

If only one Democratic candidate loses, Republicans will control the Senate and Mitch McConnell (R-K.Y.) will remain in his position as Senate Majority Leader.

Meanwhile, the current president isn't making things any easier for his party's candidates. The Washington Post obtained tape of President Donald Trump pressuring Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger to "find" more votes to overturn his loss of the state during the presidential election.

We spoke to Democratic candidate Jon Ossoff about his campaign, WABE's Emma Hurt, Deborah Scott, executive director of Georgia STAND-UP and CEO of Dominion Voting Systems John Poulos about what's ahead in the Peach State.

PBS NEWS HOUR — President-elect Biden on Tuesday flew to the battleground state of Georgia, where two races will decide the Senate's balance of power. The visit came after Vice President Pence's trip last week to Georgia and as President Trump continues questioning the election. Judy Woodruff spoke with Deborah Scott, executive director of the nonpartisan group, Georgia Stand-Up, about efforts to turn out voters.

“Well, we are so excited here in Georgia,” said Georgia STAND-UP Executive Director Deborah Scott. “Despite the holidays, we are excited and ready to get the vote out. We have been out to the polls. The first two days started yesterday with early voting, and we have been out there again today, giving out voter care kits. We're excited because we know that people are coming out; 200,000 people have already cast their vote. We — they're not leaving lines, despite the weather. It's cold outside, and people are standing inside. And what we're seeing is, people are determined to make sure their vote counts.” (MORE)

DEXERTO — Founded 26 years ago, DreamHack is a major tournament organizer that has also provided dozens of gaming festivals on a global scale. For the first time, they’ve decided to refresh their visual identity.

Announcing the changes on DreamHack Day" — an annual celebration of the company where they usually share what’s up their sleeve — the next evolution of the company includes a “reinvigorated logo, dynamic color palette, bold typeface, and energized graphics.”

The new branding hopes to celebrate the first 25 years of DreamHack and sets them up for their next quarter of a century. This move follows a merger of the company with ESL under the banner of DreamHack, which took place in September 2020.

Dexerto spoke with Shahin Zarrabi, vice president of brand and corporate marketing at ESL Gaming, to better understand the need for change, what this means for the future of DreamHack, and why now was the perfect time to roll it out. [MORE]

THE NEW YORK TIMES — Decades before Joseph R. Biden Jr. flipped Georgia for the Democrats, Felicia Davis was a one-stop political organizing dynamo in Clayton County, canvassing for issues rather than candidates, for her community rather than a political party.

The boom of her voice and the clarity of her convictions command respect. In her operation, even the teenagers are paid $15 an hour to knock on doors and distribute literature. Almost everyone is diligent: She is not someone to disappoint.

… “We weren’t surprised that Georgia turned blue, because we’ve been working on it for over 15 years,” said Deborah Scott, the founder of Georgia Stand Up. When she started the group in 2004, she said, it was hard to persuade philanthropy groups and political foundations that focus on grass-roots organizing to consider Georgia.” [MORE]

ATLANTA BUSINESS CHRONICLE — The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted every industry and every business. But few have been hit like the entertainment industry, where the thirst for content across the board (TV/film, music, streaming, gaming) has barely been able to keep up with productions of that content, especially in light of the need to keep sets healthy and safe.

Like many other industries, entertainment in the U.S. shut down in March, with stages and concert halls going dark, and film and TV sets shuttering in an attempt to curb the spreading virus. Georgia is one of the first locations where the industry is ramping up again.

… “In 2021, we will film and release Gamemaster. We feel confident in our ability to do that because the medical community, our industry organizations like SAG-Aftra, our host Wil Wheaton and our team are committed to following all of the guidelines and protocols to keep everyone safe. It will be a transition from productions of the past but it is not insurmountable,” said GameMaster Co-Executive Producer/Co-Creator Laurie Lockliear. [MORE]