KPU Sport and Recreation to host esports tournaments this summer
The three separate tournaments will feature Fortnite, Rocket League, and FIFA 21
From May to July, Kwantlen Polytechnic University’s Sport and Recreation team will be hosting three esports tournaments for KPU students.
The tournament for Fortnite duos will run from May 27 to 28, Rocket League 1v1s from June 17 to 18, and FIFA ‘21 1v1s from July 8 to 9. Each two-day tournament will be scored based on points earned during the set amount of games that competitors must play, which will be determined later depending on participation.
“There are actually a lot of gamers on campus. But it’s always been something that they’ve done privately, and so it’s an opportunity to recognize a different type of recreational activity, a different type of sport, and for them to bring that activity onto campus,” says Shalini Vanan, manager of sport, recreation, and health promotion at KPU.
KPU Sport and Recreation chose these games because of how popular they currently are, but also because Fortnite and Rocket League are free-to-play cross-platform games, meaning you can play from your computer, Xbox, PlayStation, or Nintendo Switch.
“We want to remove as many barriers to entry as possible,” says Vanan, adding that there will also be prizes up for grabs.
Hosting electronic sports events has been one of KPU Sport and Recreation’s goals for some time, even more so now because they’ve had to suspend other programming like intramurals. So, this summer seemed like the perfect time to try it out, says Vanan.
Due to the pandemic, the university has had to make changes in order to bring students together through an online format instead of in person. By expanding to esports, the Sport and Recreation staff are hoping to be more inclusive of students who aren’t into participating in sports in the traditional sense.
“We want to provide our KPU students with a platform for personal connection with each other, and this is an opportunity for them to connect and play with each other and possibly get to know some other students that they might not have come across otherwise – particularly as we are virtual,” she says.
For now, the esports tournaments this summer will be for KPU students only, but Vanan says they may expand their future events to include students from other universities within B.C.
On their website, KPU Sport and Recreation offers a variety of different resources from virtual fitness classes, to recreational opportunities such as the upcoming esports tournaments, information and recipes for nutrition, and well-being exercises like shower meditation and breathing techniques for relaxation.
To keep up to date on what they’re offering, check out their Twitter, and to register for the first Fortnite duos tournament, visit their webpage here.
