Last summer the co-president of the Paris Olympic bid committee told the AP that it was considering bringing video gaming on board for the 2024 program in France. The International Olympic Committee followed that up with a statement saying that “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,” suggesting that it might support the movement, provided that e-sports uphold Olympic values.
It appears the Olympic groups are continuing that push, as the AP reported this week that the IOC aims to host a forum on e-sports on July 21st in Lausanne, Switzerland.
“The forum, announced Tuesday, will bring together gaming executives, players, sponsors and event organizers with a goal of building relationships between Olympic leaders and the esports industry,” says the AP. It’s happening, people.
Further reading on e-sports in international sporting events:
