Paris 2024 bid team to discuss introducing esports for Olympic Games

Last updated on .From the section Olympicscomments111

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Esports could be added to the Olympic Games programme in 2024, with the Paris bid team keen to discuss the issue with the International Olympic Committee.

Competitive video gaming generated £400m in revenue in 2016, has a global audience of about 320 million, and will be included in the 2022 Asian Games.

"We have to look at it because we can't say, 'it's not about Olympics,'" Paris 2024 co-president Tony Estanguet said.

"The youth are interested, so let's meet them," he told the AP news agency.

"I think it's interesting to interact with the IOC and the esports family to better understand what the process is and why it is such a success.

"There is some time to look at it, to interact, to engage. I don't want to say 'no' from the beginning."

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Paris' hosting of the 2024 Games - and Los Angeles' in 2028 - is set to be officially ratified at an IOC congress in Lima, Peru in September.

The 2024 programme will start to be shaped in 2019, and a decision on what sports are to be added in Paris will be taken after the 2020 Games in Tokyo.

"We will spend some time after Lima to engage with new people and stakeholders," Estanguet said.

"The IOC will have the last say if they want esports on the programme. Let's discuss among ourselves."

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111 comments

  • Comment posted by AT23, at 11:20 9 Aug 2017

    Having E-Sports as an Olympic Sport would be utter ridiculous. Boycott.

  • Comment posted by Nicollers, at 11:58 9 Aug 2017

    So Esports might get in, but squash won't??

  • Comment posted by Ben, at 11:24 9 Aug 2017

    For me the Olympics is about physical prowess, the peak of human physical capability.
    E-sports (and other mental / skill based sports) have a time and place - the Olympics isn't it

  • Comment posted by Chris, at 11:49 9 Aug 2017

    If I wanted to watch lazy and unfit people play computer games, i'd just walk upstairs to my son's room, thank you.

  • Comment posted by Phil, at 12:43 9 Aug 2017

    E-sports? What's next - poetry? Town planning? Architecture? Solo Synchronised Swimming?

    Oh, hang on...

  • Comment posted by U15813265, at 11:36 9 Aug 2017

    I thought the point of an Olympics was to create a health legacy. We were bored to tears by the BBC et al after the 2012 games telling us that it had encouraged people to take up physical activity.

    So if this addition to encourage us to sit on the couch playing video games?

  • Comment posted by Andrew1990, at 11:26 9 Aug 2017

    I watched Kez Brown and at the end of his allotted time I was none the wiser as to what Esports are and how they are actually played. I suspect it involves sitting in front of a screen. Call me old fashioned but I cannot equate this passive screen based activity with "sport"

  • Comment posted by Sam, at 12:21 9 Aug 2017

    'Esports' are the opposite of what the Olympics are about. It is absolutely ridiculous. If people are interested in it then great, but it is not a sport and should be kept completely separate.

  • Comment posted by FatFreddysCat, at 11:28 9 Aug 2017

    Have I dreamt the last five months? Is it 1st April?

  • Comment posted by PetreDyche, at 13:02 9 Aug 2017

    "esports" is just another way humanity is moving towards the race of indolent sloths predicted in Disney movie Wall:E. I am an avid gamer, have been all my life, but at 33 I know that it's just a hobby.

  • Comment posted by Localist, at 12:40 9 Aug 2017

    People saying eSports are not physically active have clearly never played International Track & Field on the PlayStation back in the day... My fingers really hurt playing that!! Just glad they didn't have the 10,000 metres in it!

    More seriously though, eSports in the Olympics does sound a terrible idea, and most likely it's not really a serious suggestion, just for publicity.

  • Comment posted by Steve, at 12:26 9 Aug 2017

    No thanks.

    The Olympics are about getting out there and actually playing the sport. Not sitting behind a screen.

    Fine if people want to watch at other times, but frankly with some of the sports and disciplines that get left out already, there's no excuse for including eSports.

  • Comment posted by pete616, at 11:51 9 Aug 2017

    Oh, for God's sake. No. Go away.

  • Comment posted by fester, at 11:25 9 Aug 2017

    If only Space Invaders had been an Olympic sport 40 years ago. I could have been an Olympic Champion

  • Comment posted by Emile Heskey for England Captain, at 14:08 9 Aug 2017

    Why they are called E-sports is beyond me. They are not sports, they are video games!

    The best part of the Olympics is the inspiration it brings to everyone and the influence to start taking part in sport and/or getting healthy and active.

    I have no problem with "E-sports", but we should not be encouraging people to sit and watch TV...let alone sit there and watch other people watch TV.

  • Comment posted by Sam, at 13:07 9 Aug 2017

    Jeez, not everything is an Olympic Sport and this is now getting totally ridiculous.

    eSports have their own competitions and championships and that's where should belong.

    Faster, Higher Stronger. That's the Olypic moto and I don't see how esports fit into that at all (or many other 'supposed' current Olympic sports either for that matter).

  • Comment posted by Sonmi_451, at 12:20 9 Aug 2017

    Stop the world. I want to get off.

  • Comment posted by AndyB_MOT, at 11:44 9 Aug 2017

    Haha, yeah. Good one. You had us all going for a while.

  • Comment posted by shamblesbaby, at 13:14 9 Aug 2017

    Also joining the Olamepics will be knitting; with events, including, the 200 stitch sprint, the 800 stitch knit & purl rib, the middle distance 5000 stitch circle and the Marathon complete woolly bobble hat.

    Crazy you say? Stupid you say?
    Well, I didn't firkin' start it :D

  • Comment posted by adamh28, at 12:55 9 Aug 2017

    I remember as a kid seeing a video of Steve Redgrave physically rolling off a rower at the end of his TRAINING, let alone in the actual event. I appreciate mental strength is also key in most/all olympic disciplines, but this is just ridiculous.

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