Z Event 2020: gamers mobilize for Amnesty International

Raise funds by playing video games: this is the principle of the Z Event, a charity event organized by gamers, players who film themselves playing on their computer.

Since 2016, the cream of French streaming has gathered over a weekend, under the leadership of creators Adrien "ZeratoR" Nougaret and Alexandre "Dach" Dachary, for a good cause.

Last year, they raised 3.5 million euros for the Institut Pasteur, a record for an online charity event.

Despite the Covid, the fifth edition, for the benefit of Amnesty International, starts on Friday at 6 p.m. 

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Gamers in a bubble

The Z Event 2019 had ended with participants throwing themselves at each other, happy to have collected more than three million euros in one weekend.

A scene of jubilation that we will not see again this year.

The event does take place but, due to the health crisis, gamers will have to be careful.

"We have prepared everything so that people see that we are not doing anything. We took all the necessary precautions to prevent the spread of the virus, we created a kind of bubble, a bit like what is the NBA. We have booked a hotel in which the event will be held and in which we will all be confined, "said Adrien Nougaret, alias ZeratoR, to Europe 1.

# ZEVENT2020 will take place, but given the latest cancellations, we have decided that ...... pic.twitter.com/u8PK556Oaj

- ZeratoR (@ZeratoR) October 15, 2020

All invited streamers have agreed to take a PCR test.

Several of them, positive or simple contact cases, were forced to cancel their visit at the last minute, in particular the heavyweight of Youtube Squeezie, but also Jiraya, Mister MV, Mickalow and a few others.

Despite everything, around forty videographers will be present in Montpellier for the weekend, including Antoine Daniel, Gotaga and the Joueur du Grenier.

Those absent will still be able to join in the fun from home, with their own kitty, as ZeratoR announced Thursday.

Video games, challenges and "Questions for a champion"

In five years, the Z Event has grown: 170,000 euros raised in 2016 for Save the Children, 500,000 in 2017 for the Red Cross, 1.1 million in 2018 for Médecins sans frontières and therefore, the record. last year: 3.5 million for the Institut Pasteur.

"Some spectators say that if we do not do better, it will be missed. I'm going to say something a little silly but, in truth, from the first euro it is won. The Z Event was never intended to be a fundraising machine, ”says Adrien Nougaret.

"The important thing is that we get to get together for a good cause and raise money. The rest is bonus."

To manage to collect the money, the formula of the Z Event does not change: fun, fun and more fun.

In a good-natured atmosphere, each streamer offers content on their own channel, with the possibility of being embedded in the neighbor.

Some play video games, others take on challenges to entice viewers in front of their screens to donate.

"The flagship event this year is a

special

, Saturday at 8 pm There will be several teams and it will be hosted by Samuel Étienne himself!", Rejoices Adrien Nougaret.

A major charity event

Despite the success of his event, ZeratoR, who celebrated his 30th birthday this year, remains humble: "We try to move forward without burning our wings, while keeping the family side that we like".

His best memory?

The 2017 edition, for the benefit of Médecins sans frontières.

"It was the first time that we exceeded the million euros. There was a kind of tipping point. We realized that we had managed to create a major and unifying event while doing what we love, "he says.

Today, the event is watched by tens of thousands of spectators.

"I have some who tell me that they have been saving a euro every day for a year to be able to donate 300 euros to the Z Event, it's great!"

The entire amount raised will go to Amnesty International, an NGO chosen by the organizers.

"Since last year, around 400 associations have sent us an application file!", Wonders Adrien Nougaret.

"In reality, it is we who are going to look for the associations. There are several criteria: a tax receipt is necessary for the donors, that the association is well known and that it does not have a pot lying around."

The president of Amnesty International, Cécile Coudriou, will therefore be live on Saturday on the ZeratoR live.

"It's super interesting to see that what we do is concrete, that the money is used to do incredible things", smiles the streamer, who lets go anyway: "if the record of donations is broken, I will be delighted ".

The Z-Event will end on Sunday evening, after more than 50 hours of live on Twitch.

The official website of the event lists the live streams to follow the event and makes it easy to donate.