- Title: Esports with violent content contrary to Olympic values - Bach
- Date: 19th April 2018
- Summary: AUDIENCE (SOUNDBITE) (English) INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE PRESIDENT, THOMAS BACH, SAYING: "This is there why we have to remain open to this and this is why we are happy that in Tokyo, we see some of these sports when on these Olympic program, this is why we have added them. So the Olympic Games in Tokyo, they will be younger, they will be more urban. That means that you will see more sports that are organized in the centres of the city, where people are so that the sports will not retract itself to the stadia but will go to the people and there you will see more women participation than ever before in the Olympic Games." AUDIENCE BACH AND BATRA ADDRESSING THE NEWS CONFERENCE
- Embargoed: 3rd May 2018 17:05
- Keywords: International Olympic Committee Thomas Bach India New Delhi Electronic gaming Esports Wall Climbing Tokyo
- Location: NEW DELHI, INDIA
- City: NEW DELHI, INDIA
- Country: India
- Topics: Olympics,Sport
- Reuters ID: LVA0058C3K37J
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Esports with violent or discriminatory content cannot be considered for the Olympic Games, International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach said on Thursday (April 19).
Esports, the competitive side of electronic gaming, boasts an estimated 250 million players worldwide in a growing market worth about a billion dollars a year.
The IOC in November recognised esports as a sports activity and it will be a medal event at the 2022 Asian Games.
Bach, during a news conference in New Delhi, acknowledged the popularity of esports among young people but was wary of gaming's often-violent narrative.
Grappling with an ageing traditional audience and the waning appeal of several Olympic sports, the IOC is desperate to woo young people.
The introduction of sport climbing at the Tokyo 2020 Games is seen as another step in that direction and Bach said it was necessary to embrace new disciplines to stay relevant.
Earlier in the day, Bach met the new set of Indian Olympic Association (IOA) officials and sports minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore. - Copyright Holder: ANI (India)
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