The International eSports Festival (IEF) is an initiative of the China Youth League as implemented through its China Youth Action Network Greenpeace Organizing Committee. IEF enjoys official endorsement from fourteen Chinese government Ministries, included:

the Central Committee of the Communist Youth League,
Ministry of Education,
Ministry of Culture,Ministry of Public Security,
State Council Information Office
Ministry of Public Security
Ministry of Information Industry
Ministry of Science and Technology,
General Administration of press and pubilication
The state administration of radio,film and television
The Committee of Concerning New Generation
General Administration of Sport of China
China Association for science and technology
Chinese Academy of Social Sciences
Guangming Daily

The Central Committee of the China P.R, the Beijing Olympic Games Committee and support from the International Olympic Committee.

The planning of IEF was started in 2003 at the express request of China's central government with the aim of providing positive, culturally appropriate Internet alternatives for Chinese youth. The government decided to pursue these objectives through the China Youth League, one of the most influential organizations in China. Many of China's leaders, included President Hu, has came from its ranks.

In November 2003, 'e-sports' was added as China's ninety-ninth official sport by the Sports Bureau of the PRC's Central Committee in order to add further importance to the objectives of the IEF. The organizing committee was formed to develop and implement initiatives to respond to the CPC's constructive vision. Since then, the Committee has successfully developed and staged numerous very popular events under the banner of the IEF.

In January 2007 President Hu Jintao noted the success of IEF and issued policies designed to ensure the continuing development of culturally appropriate content and inculcating within China's Internet community a culture of positive and innovative attitudes. In April 2007, the Central People's Committee Political Bureau reinforced this policy by emphasizing the importance of developing a social-network model of Internet use by China's youth.

In July 2007, JIEAO Time Culture & Communication Company Ltd was appointed as the official marketing manager for IEF programs and China Business & Finance Ltd was assigned responsibility for marketing of sponsorships to international companies.

Overseas entities are being offered an opportunity to participate in the sponsorship of IEF's events and programs now. Sponsors will receive extensive national exposure through comprehensive web, print; TV and radio based promotional campaigns.

For 2008, the IEF will build upon the excitement of the Beijing Olympics by organizing a number of events under the name of IEF—Digital Olympic Games. The IEF, however, will continue its events and other activities after the Olympic Games as a permanent, but changing series of programs.

Structure / Events

The structure of IEF is built upon local competitions of various types around the country that then funnel into regional contests and then national championships and even International Championships (in Seoul in 2007). There are competitions, for example in:

a) Song, dance and variety (i.e. magicians) categories

b) Computer game competitions using such popular contemporary games as Star Craft, War III and Counter-Strike.

c) Cartoons, leading up to and tied into the Asian Cartoon Festival and;

d) The Digital Life Photography competition.

Each of these events will be broadcast live over the Internet to the entire country's Internet-connected population. The events will also be promoted and carried live on local television and radio as well as covered by print media.

Each of the events will have a physical location of some type—stadiums, arenas, theatres, etc. There will be 1,000 universities involved at the local level, in many cases hosting multiple competitions.

Sponsorship

The year 2008 is a special one for IEF. The 2008 Beijing Olympic Games will provide the People's Republic of China an opportunity to showcase to an estimated audience of three billion viewers a culture of tradition and innovation. The Central People's Committee wishes to fully involve China's youth in this event by using the Internet as a social network capable of furthering interest in positive intellectual, cultural and sporting pursuits.

The IEF is supported by the Chinese Communist Youth League, the State Council Information Office, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of Information Industry, the Ministry of Culture, the State Administration of Radio Film and Television, the General Administration of Press and Publication, the General Administration of Sports, China Academy of Social Science, the China Association for Science and Technology, the China Youth Concern Committee, the GuangMing Daily. It also has the support of the International Olympic Committee.

The theme / slogan for the IEF events are the same as the Olympic Slogan: Faster, Higher, and Stronger