E-sports moves step closer to being included for Olympic Games in Paris in 2024 after IOC meeting
IOC members met and discussed the possibility of including computer games in future Games and gave the idea a thumbs up
E-SPORTS has moved a step closer to becoming an Olympic sport after the International Olympics Committee opened the door for their future inclusion.
The IOC met to discuss the possibility of including competitive gaming for the 2024 Games in Paris.
And the signs were positive as it was decided e-sports adheres to Olympic values.
The IOC said in a statement after the meeting: “The summit agreed that ‘e-sports’ are showing strong growth, especially within the youth demographic across different countries, and can provide a platform for engagement with the Olympic Movement.
“Competitive e-sports could be considered as a sporting activity, and the players involved prepare and train with an intensity which may be comparable to athletes in traditional sports.”
Competitive video gaming has a global audience of round 320million and brought in £400million in revenue in 2016.
Former canoeing gold medallist Tony Estanguet is the man who has pushed for e-sport’s inclusion.
Estanguet believes that e-sports must be considered for the Olympics if the Games are to stay relevant for younger generations.
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E-sports will be included in the 2022 Asian Games and could make its Olympic bow two years later in Paris.
He told The Associated Press in August: “We have to look at it because we can’t say, ‘It’s not us. It’s not about Olympics’.
“The youth, yes they are interested in e-sport and this kind of thing.
“Let’s look at it. Let’s meet them. Let’s try if we can find some bridges.”