author: Paul Wozniak
IEM 2020 Will be Hosted Without On-site Attendance
We've just received official information that this year's Intel Extreme Masters event will take place without the participation of the audience, The reason for this decision is Silesian Voivodeship Office's fears over the coronavirus epidemic.
The local voivode has just announced that this year's Intel Extreme Masters event in Katowice, Poland will take place without the participation of the audience. It was the fear of the spread of coronavirus that caused the voivode to make such a decision (which the organizers of the event had to adapt to). Just yesterday there was an announcement that each participant will be tested for elevated temperature before entering. Today, however, we know that the audience will simply not enter the IEM. Such actions seem fully justified, as many people from different parts of the world were to appear at the event, which might have helped spreading the epidemic. However, it is worth mentioning that the tournaments will take place as planned and can be viewed online.
"The Voivode of Silesia has prohibited the audience from participating in Intel Extreme Masters"
The coronovirus epidemic is currently taking its toll on the video game industry. Over the past few days, we have learned that Hideo Kojima and PlayStation have resigned from this year's Game Developers Conference (GDC). Electronic Arts will also limit its presence at this event. For the same reason, among others, CD Projekt RED and Sony will not appear on PAX East 2020.