Esports community donates $125k in support of those affected by invasion of Ukraine

Members of the Louvre Agreement, which includes regular participants in ESL and some of the leading competitive CS:GO teams, have agreed to pool a $125,000 (€113,700) donation to aid those affected by the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The amount raised will be donated to key disaster relief services including UNHCR, MSF, Amnesty International and The Red Cross.

“This particular initiative supplements a range of other ESL and Partner Team donations and activities that are being conducted individually,” the collection announced.

Signatories of the Louvre Agreement include a selection of esports teams, including ESL and elite participants in the Pro League which agreed to collectively work around the ESL Pro Tour events in CS:GO to improve monetisation and to establish a new governance model around ESL Pro League.

ESL is a partner of GamingMalta, hosting its successful ESL Pro League Season in the country.

The Louvre Agreement was initially signed in 2020 by ESL and some of the largest esports organisations in the world. The agreement included the likes of Astralis, Complexity, Evil Geniuses, FaZe Clan, Fnatic, G2 Esports, NAVI and Ninjas in Pyjamas, alongside others.

In late 2021, a number of new teams were accepted, before the agreement was extended by a number of years.

The iGaming and game development industries have made a number of moves to support those affected by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

On Thursday, the UK-based organisers of Gaming Industry For Ukraine, announced it is approaching its target of raising £250,000 for those affected.

Leaders in Malta’s video game development industry have issued a statement decrying the invasion, offering their support for the people of Ukraine who are “currently enduring unspeakable horrors and suffering.”