Because of his career of dedication to global sport and his leadership in the growth of eSports in the United States and around the world, Vlad Marinescu has been named the recipient of the United States Sports Academy’s 2020 Honorary Doctorate.

Each year as part of its Awards of Sport program, the Academy presents the award to a person who has made outstanding contributions to sport and to society. Marinescu is the President of both the International Esports Federation (IESF) and the United States eSports Federation. He also serves as the chief media and marketing officer for the International Judo Federation.

Marinescu will receive the Academy’s Honorary Doctorate at the institution’s combined graduation and Awards of Sport program on its campus in Daphne, Ala., on Thursday, 12 November 2020.

Born in Romania and raised in the United States, Marinescu has worked in leadership roles in international sport for more than 15 years. Marinescu was involved in the International Judo Federation’s recent modernization efforts in event organization, sponsorship, marketing, TV production and rights distribution. He also previously served as the Director General of SportAccord – now known as the Global Association of International Sports Federations – the umbrella organization for all international sports federations as well as organizers of multi-sports games and sport-related international associations.

The Academy’s Awards of Sport honor those who have made significant contributions to sport in categories as diverse as the artist and the athlete. The Academy’s American Sport Art Museum and Archives (ASAMA) annually recognizes these men and women through its Sport Artist of the Year, Honorary Doctorates, Medallion Series, Athletes of the Year and Alumni of the Year awards.