The British Esports Association, the not-for-profit organisation set up to promote and support grassroots esports, has struck a partnership with sports governing body Table Tennis England.
The partnership will bring together esports and traditional sport, explore the similarities between the two and promote the importance of good mental health and wellbeing and exercise.
It will also promote the benefits of each other’s activities, including to those in care homes across England who have dementia or Parkinson’s.
Both table tennis and esports offer a great brain workout, can improve cognitive functions, test reaction times and allow people to have fun and relax and socialise with one another. Esports has also been proven to improve behaviour, concentration and attendance levels in schools.
Both British Esports and Table Tennis England are also committed to bringing more participation opportunities to deprived areas of England. They will help promote each other’s activities, help get young people active and push table tennis as a suitable social activity which helps develop key skills also used in gaming.
The campaign will utilise top stars in the fields of table tennis and esports to talk about their mental health experiences and struggles to help reduce the stigma surrounding it, as well as Olympic table tennis players’ thoughts on gaming as a stress-relieving activity.
There will be activations on social media, video platforms and more, with the view to host physical events in the future when it’s safe to do so.
The two bodies will create a mix of content to help promote the partnership and generate buzz on social media, with a mix of both entertaining and informative content.
Table Tennis England Chief Executive Sara Sutcliffe said: “The importance of good mental and physical health has arguably never been in sharper focus than now, and the positive effects of both table tennis and esports are there for all to see.
“I’m particularly excited by the potential of this partnership to engage people of all ages and encourage them to seek out the benefits of an active lifestyle, both physically and mentally.”
British Esports Association founder and CEO Chester King commented: “We’re delighted to be partnering with a reputable governing body to highlight the positives that both sports and esports promote. We have lots of ideas and hope to get the conversation going around the importance of both physical and mental health.
“Table tennis is also a sport that’s close to my heart and I look forward to seeing us get involved with some exciting activations.”