Microsoft, Xbox, And Special Olympics Team Up For This Years Gaming For Inclusion Event – Forbes

Microsoft, Xbox, and Special Olympics are working together to make gaming more inclusive.

In a blog post published last month, Microsoft and Xbox announced the upcoming second annual Gaming for Inclusion event in collaboration with Special Olympics.

The all-virtual, multi-day esports tournament aims to make gaming inclusive and welcoming to all players so that everyone can experience the joys of gaming, according to Jenn Panattoni, Xboxs head of social impact, who wrote the post. The event will bring together gamers from Canada and the United States.

Microsofts mission of empowering every person to achieve more drives the companys business goals and is the foundation of its long-term partnership with Special Olympics. The company is committed to developing innovative ways for technology to uplift and empower people regardless of ability, Panattoni said in a recent interview with me conducted over email. Within Microsofts gaming business specifically, there is a culture and belief that gaming is for everyone. We want to make gaming inclusive and welcoming for everyone, and let them know they belong in the gaming community.

This years event stands on the shoulders of past partnerships between Microsoft and Special Olympics that were obviously successful. Work between the two began in 2018 when they brought the first-ever esports tournament to the USA Games in Seattle. Two years later, during Covids zenith, saw the Xbox Virtual Gaming Event emerge for the first time. The event brought together more than 118,000 people, with last years edition growing nearly six times by having 627,665 people.

Special Olympics is working with programs across the [United States] and Canada to coordinate athlete and unified partner participation for the event and drive support, said Prianka Nandy, chief information and technology officer at Special Olympics, in an interview with me. All of this investment by Microsoft, Xbox, Start.gg and Special Olympics tells a broader story, one of gaming and technology communities coming together to support each other. [We want] to say, All abilities are welcome, all abilities can participate and have fun.

An integral part of the Gaming Event are shoutcasters. These people more or less serve as broadcasters for the event. Microsoft held a two-day training workshop at Microsofts Redmond campus. Three Special Olympics athletes participated in this years workshop, with each person receiving hands-on lessons from notable gamers such as Kate Yeager, Joshua Gray, Sean Spaceman Rogers, and Jon Kefaloukos. The workshop culminated with the students each taking their turn in an on-camera appearance during an Xbox livestream streamed on Twitch. In addition, they were also treated to surprise behind-the-scenes tours of the Mojang and 343 Industries studios, both headquartered in Redmond.

The participants have given rave reviews in their feedback on the shoutcaster workshop. I got to hang out on the Xbox livestream set. That was, as a small streamer, getting to do something that big was amazing, said Ben Gregory.

Jose Moreno concurred. It was awesome. I loved it, he said. Its something that I really wanted to do. I think I was born for this [gamer] profession.

Gaming for Inclusion has amassed over a million views in the last two years. The barometer for success lies in the response from Special Olympics athletes, families, and fans. Playing games alongside their favorite WNBA, NBA, NFL, and WWE athletes has been a bucket list item and a dream come true for the Special Olympics athletes. For viewers, Panattoni said, It was an example of how gaming and technology can combine to be a force for good [and] how online gaming can bring inclusion, joy and community to those who need it the most.

I typically wouldnt be able to play with somebody from Special Olympics across the country from where I live, Gregory said of Gaming for Inclusion. With gaming and technology, I can just press a button and were connected.

Nandy said her organization feels the Gaming for Inclusion event has a bright future. She explained they have two primary long-term goals. The first is pushing harder on expanding the event and esports as a whole. Esports is a powerful platform on which to promote inclusivity and equality, particularly for athletes who dont want to (or cant) participate in real sports due to their disability. They also break barriers around geography, language, and social isolation. Secondly, Special Olympics wants to ensure athletes have ample opportunities to obtain leadership roles and be authentically integrated in the esports world.

We would like to work with amazing partners like Xbox and Microsoft to ensure this platform will drive change and create a new understanding of leadership, inspired by our athletes, that will unlock leadership potential in people of all abilities, Nandy said.

Panattoni is on board with Nandys sentiments.

As Gaming for Inclusion continues to gain community support and participation, the real opportunity and dream lies in providing Special Olympics athletes with more opportunities to participate in a leadership capacity, she said.

This years Gaming for Inclusion event begins on September 10.

Go here to see the original:

Microsoft, Xbox, And Special Olympics Team Up For This Years Gaming For Inclusion Event - Forbes